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Early detection is a major strategy in breast cancer control and, for this reason, it is important to ensure access to investigation of suspected cases for care continuity and timely treatment. This study aimed to estimate the need for procedures of breast cancer early detection and assess their adequacy for providing care to screened and symptomatic women in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) in 2019. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the provision of tests for breast cancer early detection, comparing the estimated need with the procedures performed in the SUS. Parameters provided by the Brazilian National Cancer Institute were used to estimate the population and the need for early detection tests. The number of procedures performed in 2019 was obtained from the Outpatient Information System of the SUS. A deficit in screening mammograms was observed in the country (-45.1%), ranging from -31.4% in the South Region to -70.5 % in the North Region. If this test was offered to the target population, the deficit in the country would reduce to -14.8% and there would be an oversupply in the South Region (6.2%). Diagnostic investigation procedures varied between the regions, with higher deficits in coarse needle biopsy (-90.8%) and breast lump biopsy/excision (-80.6%) observed in the Central-West Region, and the highest deficit in anatomopathological exams in the North Region (-88.5%). The comparison between the production and need for procedures of breast cancer early detection in Brazil and its regions identified deficits and inadequacies that must be better understood and addressed at the state and municipal levels.

False-positive results on mammography screening are common, putting a burden on both women and the health care system. This study aimed to estimate the risk of false-positive results in Brazilian mammography screening based on data from the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) information systems. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with women aged 40-69 years, who underwent mammography screening and breast histopathological examination at SUS from 2017 to 2019. The rate of false-positive results was estimated based on the prevalence of altered BI-RADS results on mammography screening and the proportion of benign results on breast histopathological examination. Of the 10,671 women with histopathological examination at SUS, 46.2% had a benign result, and this proportion was significantly higher in women aged 40-49 years compared to women aged 50-69 years. The estimate of false-positive results was 8.18 cases per 100 women aged 40-49 years and 6.06 per 100 women aged 50-69 years. This information is useful for public managers in evaluating mammography screening programs, as well as for health care providers to guide women on the implications of mammography screening.

Objetive: to analyze breast cancer screening monitoring indicators in the female population using the Brazilian National Health System, from 2018 to 2019., Methods: this was a descriptive study based on Cancer Information System (SISCAN) data; screening indicators were calculated following deterministic linkage of the mammography and histopathology databases., Results: in 2018, 807,430 women aged 50 to 69 years were screened for breast cancer, 91% of whom had a benign result, 1.8% probably benign, 6.7% inconclusive results and 0.5% results suggestive of cancer; the positive mammogram rate was 9.0%; biopsy was estimated to be indicated for 1.6% of the women, 33.9% of whom had a malignant result, and the cancer confirmation rate was 5.4 per 1,000 women., Conclusion: high benign lesion loss to follow-up was identified; the positive mammogram rate was lower than the international parameter, but the cancer detection rate was adequate and the percentage of inconclusive mammograms was acceptable.

Objective: to assess actions for breast cancer early detection in the Brazilian National Health System using process indicators., Methods: this is a descriptive study with secondary data from the Breast Cancer Information System (Sismama), for the period from 2010 to 2011., Results: 5,759,503 mammograms and 44,892 histopathological tests were assessed; screening mammography was predominant (96.2%), with annual interval (44.6%) and 51.2% of the patients were in the recommended age group (50 to 69 years); mammogram report was emitted in 30 days in 61.7% of the cases; among the 17,343 malignant lesions confirmed in the histopathological tests, 66.4% were detected through clinical examination., Conclusion: screening actions and early diagnosis in disagreement with the Ministry of Health's recommendations may compromise its effectiveness and entail greater risk to women; it is necessary to improve professional's adherence to screening guidelines, as well as enhance the control and assessment of the health services.