Rastreio e diagnóstico precoce de câncer de mama no Brasil: indicações e métodos.

Abstract

Introduction: In 2021, breast cancer became the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and the leading cause of death among women worldwide. Screening is an effective strategy to detect the disease at an early stage and reduce its mortality. Objective: The objective of this literature review was to emphasize the impact of systematic and personalized screening on the early diagnosis of breast cancer and, therefore, on the morbidity and mortality of this disease. Methodology: This study was a bibliographic review that included articles from Pubmed, Lilacs, and Bireme, in English and Portuguese. Medical radiology and mastology/gynecology books that presented definitions and concepts related to breast cancer were also searched. Discussion: The strategies for the early detection of breast cancer are early diagnosis and screening. Early diagnosis contributes to reducing the stage of cancer presentation. Screening should be targeted at women in the age group and frequency in which there is conclusive evidence on 6/34 the reduction of mortality from breast cancer and in which the balance between health benefits and harms of this practice is more favorable. Conclusion: The risks and benefits of screening for each woman should not be discussed in general terms, but rather on an individual basis. For high-risk patients and in some special conditions, more than one complementary diagnostic method should be considered as routine.