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PURPOSE: To describe the extent to which screening mammography (SCM) has been organized according to the public health concept of low-cost, high-quality, and population-based screening, selected indicators of U. S. mammography facilities were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the National Cancer Institute's phase I of the National Survey of Mammography Facilities were analyzed. This data base consists of questionnaire information obtained in 1992 from a 10% random sample of U. S. mammography facilities. RESULTS: Of 1, 057 facilities, 634 (60%) distinguished SCM from diagnostic mammography (DXM). In facilities providing SCM (n = 535), 477 (89%) used the mediolateral oblique (MLO) view and/or the craniocaudal (CC) view. While 898 (85%) of all facilities requested clinical follow-up of abnormal mammograms, only 285 (27%) facilities actually received this information. Only 137 (13%) facilities operated at high volume (> or = 15 mammograms per day per machine), and 211 (20%) used batch interpretation. Average cost of a screening mammogram was 89 (range, 10-225). CONCLUSIONS: While more facilities are distinguishing SCM from DXM and obtain MLO and CC views, SCM does not appear to be organized for high volume and low cost.
Houn et al. (Sat,) studied this question.