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Breast radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists updated their previous recommendation/guidance at the 4th Hungarian Breast Cancer Consensus Conference in Kecskemét. A recommendation is hereby made that breast tumours should be screened, diagnosed and treated according to these guidelines. These professional guidelines include the latest technical developments and research findings, including the role of imaging methods in therapy and follow-up. It includes details on domestic development proposals and also addresses related areas (forensic medicine, media, regulations, reimbursement). The entire material has been agreed with the related medical disciplines., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Forrai, Kovács, Ambrózay, Barta, Borbély, Lengyel, Ormándi, Péntek, Tünde and Sebő.)

Breast radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists have updated their previous recommendation/guidance at the 4th Hungarian Breast Cancer Consensus Conference. They suggest to adopt this actual protocol for the screening, diagnostics and treatment of breast tumors from now on. This recommendation includes the description of the newest technologies, the recent results of scientific research, as well as the role of imaging methods in the therapeutic processes and the followup. Suggestions for improvement of the current Hungarian practice and other related issues as forensic medicine, media connections, regulations, and reimbursement are also detailed. The guidance has been in agreement with the related medical disciplines.

Breast radiologists and nuclear medical specialists have refreshed their previous statement text during the 3rd Hungarian Breast Cancer Consensus Meeting. They suggest taking into consideration this actual protocol for the screening, diagnostics and treatment of breast tumors, from now on. This recommendation includes the description of the newest technologies, the recent results of scientific research, as well as the role of imaging methods in the therapeutic processes and the follow-up. Suggestions for improvement of the Hungarian current practice and other related issues as forensic medicine, media connections, regulations, and reimbursement are also detailed. The statement text has been cross-checked with the related medical disciplines.

Introduction: Organised, nationwide screening for breast cancer with mammography in the age group between 45 and 65 years with 2 years screening interval started in Hungary in January 2002., Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the attendance rate of nationwide breast screening programme for the 2008-2009 years., Method: The data derive from the database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration. The ratio of women in the age group 45-65 years was calculated having either a screening mammography or a diagnostic mammography in the 4th screening round of the programme., Results: In the years 2000-2001, 7.6% of the women had an opportunistic screening mammography while in 2008-2009 31.2% of the target population had screening mammography within the organized programme. During the same periods 20.2% (2000-2001) and 20.4% (2008-2009) of women had a diagnostic mammography. Thus the total (screening and diagnostic) coverage of mammography increased from 26.6% (2000-2001) to 50.1% (2008-2009). The attendance rate failed to change between 2002 and 2009., Conclusions: In order to decrease the mortality due to breast cancer, the attendance rate of mammography screening programme should be increased. Orv. Hetil., 154(50), 1975-1983.

Organised, nationwide screening for breast cancer with mammography in the age group of 45-65 years with 2 years screening interval started in Hungary in January 2002. The aim of this study is to analyse the attendance rate of breast screening programme for the 2006/2007 years, including the analysis of the ratio of screening and diagnostic mammography examinations. The data derive from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) covering the 8 years period between 2000 and 2007. The ratio of women in the age group of 45-65 years was calculated having either a screening mammography or a diagnostic mammography. The analysis was carried out for the years 2000-2001 before and 2006-2007 after the implementation of nationwide organised programme. In the years 2000-2001 7.26% of the women aged 45-65 years had an opportunistic screening mammography while in 2006-2007 29.4% of the target population had screening mammography within the organised programme. During the same periods 19.8% (2000-2001) and 21.8% (2006-2007) of women aged 45-65 years had a diagnostic mammography. Thus the total (screening and diagnostic) coverage of mammography increased from 26.2% (2000-2001) to 49.7% (2006-2007). The attendance of the Hungarian organised breast cancer screening programme slightly declined in 2006-2007 compared to 2002-2003/2004-2005, and to achieve the expected results in mortality decrease a further improvement of the uptake is necessary.

Objective: To estimate the cumulative risk of a false-positive screening result in European mammographic screening programmes, and examine the rates and procedures of further assessment., Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify studies of the cumulative risk of a false-positive result in European screening programmes (390,000 women). We then examined aggregate data, cross-sectional information about further assessment procedures among women with positive results in 20 mammographic screening programmes from 17 countries (1.7 million initial screens, 5.9 million subsequent screens), collected by the European Network for Information on Cancer project (EUNICE)., Results: The estimated cumulative risk of a false-positive screening result in women aged 50-69 undergoing 10 biennial screening tests varied from 8% to 21% in the three studies examined (pooled estimate 19.7%). The cumulative risk of an invasive procedure with benign outcome ranged from 1.8% to 6.3% (pooled estimate 2.9%). The risk of undergoing surgical intervention with benign outcome was 0.9% (one study only). From the EUNICE project, the proportions of all screening examinations in the programmes resulting in needle biopsy were 2.2% and 1.1% for initial and subsequent screens, respectively, though the rates differed between countries; the corresponding rates of surgical interventions among women without breast cancer were 0.19% and 0.07%., Conclusion: The specific investigative procedures following a recall should be considered when examining the cumulative risk of a false-positive screening result. Most women with a positive screening test undergo a non-invasive assessment procedure. Only a small proportion of recalled women undergo needle biopsy, and even fewer undergo surgical intervention.

Objectives: To summarize participation and coverage rates in population mammographic screening programmes for breast cancer in Europe., Methods: We used the European Network for Information on Cancer (EUNICE), a web-based data warehouse (EUNICE Breast Cancer Screening Monitoring, EBCSM) for breast cancer screening, to obtain information on programme characteristics, coverage and participation from its initial application in 10 national and 16 regional programmes in 18 European countries., Results: The total population targeted by the screening programme services covered in the report comprised 26.9 million women predominantly aged 50-69. Most of the collected data relates to 2005, 2006 and/or 2007. The average participation rate across all programmes was 53.4% (range 19.4-88.9% of personally invited); or 66.4% excluding Poland, a large programme that initiated personal invitations in 2007. Thirteen of the 26 programmes achieved the European Union benchmark of acceptable participation (>70%), nine achieved the desirable level (>75%). Despite considerable invitation coverage across all programmes (79.3%, range 50.9-115.2%) only 48.2% (range 28.4-92.1%) of the target population were actually screened. The overall invitation and examination coverage excluding Poland was 70.9% and 50.3%, respectively., Conclusions: The results demonstrate the feasibility of European-wide screening monitoring using the EBCSM data warehouse, although further efforts to refine the system and to harmonize standards and data collection practices will be required, to fully integrate all European countries. The more than three-fold difference in the examination coverage should be taken into account in the evaluation of service screening programmes.

The aim of our study was to compare the preoperative sum score diagnostics of invasive ductal and lobular cancers using three or four diagnostic methods. The novelty of this study is the examination of this phenomenon based on sum score, no such papers can be found in the literature. Ductal cancers have higher score values indicating easier diagnostics, but the difference in distribution of the scores was significant (p = 0.0086) only in case of the triple-test. The score values give appropriate opportunity to create their order of diagnostic power which was the same by both histologic types and in their subgroups with low sum-score: the strongest was cytology, followed by mammography, ultrasound and physical examination. No significant difference was found between the two histologic group in their mammographic appearances-stellate, circumscribed, assymmetric distortion or microcalcification-(p = 0.0694). In low score subgroup besides the occult forms, structural distortion and indeterminate microcalcifications overweighed the stellate and circumscribed lesions typical for the whole groups. In symptomless cases of both histologic groups only one strongly malignant diagnostic test result warrants the right diagnosis. Summarizing the score distribution of the results in case of four diagnostic tools the higher scores-indicating malignancy-were more frequent in the ductal group compared to the lobular ones. Extra attention has to be paid to rare radiomorphologic appearances and to the most deterministic examination, namely cytology.

The aim of this work is to report the preliminary results of the Hungarian multicentric randomised DCIS study. Between 2000 and 2007, 278 patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated by breast-conserving surgery were randomised according to predetermined risk groups. Low/intermediate-risk patients (n=29) were randomised to 50 Gy whole-breast irradiation (WBI) or observation. High-risk cases (n=235) were allocated to receive 50 Gy WBI vs. 50 Gy WBI plus 16 Gy tumour bed boost. Very high-risk patients (patients with involved surgical margins; n=14) were randomised to 50 Gy WBI plus 16 Gy tumour bed boost or reoperation (reexcision plus radiotherapy or mastectomy alone). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to detect the expression of potential molecular prognostic markers (ER, PR, Her2, p53, Bcl-2 and Ki-67). At a median follow-up of 36 months no recurrence was observed in the low/intermediate- and very high-risk patient groups. In the high-risk group, 4 (1.7%) local recurrences and 1 (0.4%) distant metastasis occurred. No patient died of breast cancer. In the high-risk group of patients, the 3- and 5-year probability of local recurrence was 1.1% and 3.1%, respectively. The positive immunostaining for Her2 (38%), p53 (37%) and Ki-67 (44%) correlated with a high nuclear grade. Significant inverse correlation was found between the expression of ER (77%), PR (67%), Bcl-2 (64%) and grade. Preliminary results suggest that breast-conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy yields an annual local recurrence rate of less than 1% in patients with DCIS. IHC of molecular prognostic markers can assist to gain insight into the biologic heterogeneity of DCIS.

Aim: Organised, nationwide screening for breast cancer with mammography in the age group of 45-65 years with a 2-year screening interval started in Hungary in January 2002. The aim of this study is to analyze the attendance rate of breast screening programme, including the analysis of the ratio of screening and diagnostic mammography examinations., Data and Methods: The data derive from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) covering the 6-year period between 2000-2006. The ratio of women in the age group of 45-65 years was calculated having either a screening mammography or a diagnostic mammography. The analysis was carried out for the years 2000-2001 before and 2002-2003, 2004-2005 after the implementation of nationwide organised programme., Results: In the years 2000-2001 7.26% of the women aged 45-65 had an opportunistic screening mammography, while in 2002-2003 34% and in 2004-2005 29.5% of the target population had screening mammography within the organised programme. During the same periods 19.8% (2000-2001), 22.1% (2002-2003) and 23.2% (2004-2005) of women aged 45-65 had a diagnostic mammography. Thus the total (screening and diagnostic) coverage of mammography increased from 26.2% (2000-2001) to 53.5% (2002-2003) and 50.8% (2004-2005)., Conclusions: Attendance of the Hungarian organised breast cancer screening programme slightly declined in 2004-2005, and to achieve the expected results in decline of mortality further improvement of attendance is necessary.

Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy (RT) has become the standard of care for the treatment of early-stage (St. I-II) invasive breast carcinoma. However, controversy exists regarding the value of RT in the conservative treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In this article we review the role of RT in the management of DCIS. Retrospective and prospective trials and meta-analyses published between 1975 and 2007 in the MEDLINE database, and recent issues of relevant journals/handbooks relating to DCIS, BCS and RT were searched for. In retrospective series (10,194 patients) the 10-year rate of local recurrence (LR) with and without RT was reported in the range of 9-28% and 22-54%, respectively. In four large randomised controlled trials (NSABP-B-17, EORTC-10853, UKCCCR, SweDCIS; 4,568 patients) 50 Gy whole-breast RT significantly decreased the 5-year LR rate from 16-22% (annual LR rate: 2.6-5.0%) to 7-10% (annual LR rate: 1.3-1.9%). In a recent meta-analysis of randomised trials the addition of RT to BCS resulted in a 60% risk reduction of both invasive and in situ recurrences. In a multicentre retrospective study, an additional dose of 10 Gy to the tumour bed yielded a further 55% risk reduction compared to RT without boost. To date, no subgroups have been reliably identified that do not benefit from RT after BCS. In the NSABP-B-24 trial, the addition of tamoxifen (TAM) to RT reduced ipsilateral (11.1% vs. 7.7%) and contralateral (4.9% vs. 2.3%) breast events significantly. In contrast, in the UKCCCR study, TAM produced no significant reduction in all breast events. Based on available evidence obtained from retrospective and prospective trials, all patients with DCIS have potential benefit from RT after BCS. Further prospective studies are warranted to identify subgroups of low-risk patients with DCIS for whom RT can be safely omitted. Until long-term results of ongoing studies on outcomes of patients treated with BCS alone (with or without TAM or aromatase inhibitors) are available, RT should be routinely recommended after BCS for all patients except those with contraindication.

The prevalence of radial scar (RS) is 0.04% in asymptomatic women participating in population screening for breast cancer. It is important to differentiate RS from concomitant malignancies, which occur in 20-30% of patients, or from small stellate carcinomas which give similar radiomorphology. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectivity of current breast diagnostic methods in distinguishing between real RS, concomitant malignancy and carcinomas imitating RS. Diagnosis of RS was set up in 61 cases by mammography. Forty-four patients underwent surgical excision: histology showed benign or malignant lesions in 28 and 16 cases, respectively. A series of negative results at follow-up proved the benign nature of the lesion in further 11 cases. Six patients were not available for follow-up. Results of mammography, physical examination, ultrasonography and cytology were evaluated and were compared in 39 benign and 16 malignant cases. Results of examinations were reported on the BI-RADS scale ranging from 1 to 5. The mean categorical scores of all diagnostic processes were around the level of borderline lesions: mammography: 3.49, ultrasonography: 3.06, cytology: 2.47 and physical examination: 1.67. The average age of the patients in the benign and malignant groups were the same: 58 years. The two groups did not differ significantly over either distribution of coded mammographical results (p = 0.2092), or the distribution of mammographical parenchyma density patterns (p = 0.4875). However, the malignant and benign groups differed significantly from each other over the distribution of coded ultrasonographic (p = 0.0176) and cytological (p < 0.0001) results. In conclusion, in the preoperative diagnosis of asymptomatic "black-stars", mammography detects the non-palpable lesions, and ultrasonography together with cytology proved better in the analysis, provided FNAB is US guided. Due to the complex diagnostic approach the nature of the "black stars" is known in the majority of cases prior to the surgical biopsy.

The objective of the current study was to determine the accuracy of radiological and cytological diagnoses of intracystic and papillary lesions in distinguishing between true papillary benign and malignant lesions. Seventy cytological reports of intracystic proliferations were selected from our cytopathological database at the Breast Health Corporation, Budapest, Hungary, dating back to the last 7 years. Retrospective analysis of the diagnostic approaches--mammography, ultrasonography, clinical examination and cytology--was performed in selected cases. The results of imaging and cytological examination are routinely reported on a categorical scale ranging from 1 to 5. 44 patients underwent surgical excision: histology showed benign lesions in 21 and malignant lesions in 23 cases. Twelve patients, who did not undergo biopsy and presented a stable disease at follow-ups, were also included in the group of benign lesion. Fifteen patients were not available for follow-up. Concerning the total investigated cases the mean categorical values of mammography, ultrasonography and cytology were 2.24, 2.78 and 3.05 respectively. The malignant and benign groups significantly differ from each other concerning the mean age of the patients (p=0.0216), the distribution of the coded mammographical results (p= 0.0171) the cytological results (p=0.0001), and average tumor size measured on mammogram images (p=0.0199). The two group does not significantly differ over the distribution of mammographical density patterns (p=0.1075), radiomorphological appearance (p=0.1101), average tumor size measured on ultrasonography (p=0.2665), and patient complaints (p=0.2634). The evaluation of ultrasonography shows borderline significance (Pearson Chi-square test: p=0.0616, M-L Chi-square test: p=0.0404) between the malignant and benign groups. Differential diagnosis between malignant and benign intracystic and papillary lesions is feasible using common radiological diagnostics. However, more efficient teamwork is needed with the cooperation of a well-trained cytologist and radiologist, who are able to produce precise images of the lesions, and guides the aspiration of the adequate samples for cytology, which is the most valuable examination.

Background: Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 5-10% of all breast cancers and is associated with subtle clinical and mammographic changes. It is also frequently multifocal and traditional diagnostic methods are unable to reliably detect this preoperatively. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of current imaging modalities to detect and analyze invasive lobular carcinomas as compared to invasive ductal carcinomas., Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 396 invasive carcinomas - 331 ductal (84%) and 65 lobular (16%) - between 2000 and 2002 was performed. The two group were compared on the basis of result of mammography, physical examination, ultrasound, and cytology using a coded system points 1-5 concerning the malignancy., Results: The sensitivity of mammography and sonography for malignancy were higher in case of ductal carcinomas (81%, 77.4%), then by lobular cancers (75%, 72.2%), but the differences were not significant (p=0.4693 and p=0.4227 respectively). The radio-morphologic analysis shows the most frequent image was the stellate lesion in both group, but the difficult detectable structural distortions were found in 14.2% in lobular cancer- group, but only in 5.1% in case of ductal cancers without significance (p=0.5523). The clinical examination could predict the malignancy least of all, in the ductal group 42%, in the lobular group 40.2%. The cytology produced the best diagnostic result for malignancy in the ductal group 86.2%, and in the lobular group 76.5% was observed, the difference is significant (p=0.0069)., Conclusion: Although all elements of triplet diagnostics produces were more uncertain for malignancy in case of lobular carcinomas than ductal one, combining the result of the three radiological modalities and cytology increase the preoperative detection rate of lobular carcinoma.

Aim: Organised, nationwide screening for breast cancer with mammography in the age group 45-65 years with 2 years screening interval started in Hungary in January 2002. The aim of this study is to analyze the attendance rate of breast screening programme, including the analysis of the ratio of screening and diagnostic mammography examinations., Data and Methods: The data derive from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) covering the period 2000-2003. The ratio of women was calculated in the age group 45-65 years having either a screening mammography or a diagnostic mammography. The analysis was carried out for the years 2000-2001 (mainly opportunistic screening) before and 2002-2003 after the implementation of nationwide organized programme., Results: In the years 2000-2001 7,26% of the women aged 45-65 had an opportunistic screening mammography while in 2002-2003 33,95% of the target population had screening mammography within the organized programme. During the same periods 19,67% (2000-2001) and 22,05% (2002-2003) of women aged 45-65 had a diagnostic mammography. Thus the total (screening and diagnostic) coverage of mammography increased from 25,85% (2000-2001) to 53,46% (2002-2003)., Conclusions: The attendance of the Hungarian organized breast cancer screening programme - compared to the previous period before the implementation of the organized screening programme - is promising, although to achieve the expected results in mortality decrease a further improvement of the uptake is necessary.

Background: Mammographic parenchymal patterns are of particular interest because the denser patterns reduce sensitivity and they have been shown to be affected by exogenous oestrogens., Purpose: To evaluate the possible effects of peri- and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the mammographic density in the different types of parenchymal patterns., Patients and Methods: During a period of 7 years (average: 3.44), 1158 women with combined or monophasic HRT were checked with mammography yearly. Their base-line mammograms were compared with those of 1433 screening participants of the same age (average 56 years). Mammograms were evaluated according to the Tabar classification. We studied the changes in density between two examinations in the HRT group, especially in the subgroup with benign lesion., Results: In comparison of the HRT and screening group, the distribution of their parenchymal patterns were similar. Pattern I (glandular) and II (adipose) eventually dominated, 38.9% and 47.9% in the HRT group, and 34.0% and 42.2% in the screening group. Pattern IV (adenotic) and V (fibrotic) types have been found in 8.9% of the HRT group, and 13.1% of the screening group. During HRT, an increase of breast density has developed after a few months, then it remained unchanged. Density increased in 30.8% of the whole HRT group, and in 38.0% of women who had benign lesions as well. Although there was a significant increase in breast density in case of pattern I-II and III (p=0.0013), pattern IV and V remained totally unchanged. The distribution of the patterns has changed significantly (p=0.0000) during HRT: the proportion of pattern I (glandular) type increased from 38.9% to 51.3%, pattern II (adipose) decreased from 47.9% to 30.6%, while the IV (adenotic) and V (fibrotic) types together showed no change., Conclusion: Careful clinical and mammographic follow-up might be appropriate in women undergoing HRT, especially in those with benign lesion, because the HRT-induced increase in breast density proved significant.

The control of intra-arterial chemotherapy by selective conventional and xero-angiographic exploration of the external carotid artery is reported. With the aid of a catheter inserted into the superior thyroid, facial or super-facial temporal artery, all the main branches of the external carotid artery can be depicted. Xeroangiography in the area of the external carotid artery is a new method on which no data could be found in the literature. Anatomical variations of the vascular system and vascular lesions caused by surgery, a tumour, or intra-arterial chemotherapy are better demonstrated by xeroradiography. The bones and the soft parts are well depicted at the same time in the xeroradiographic pictures; thus the bony masses of the facial and petrous regions, together with the vessels on the bones, in the bones and in the soft parts are visible on one and the same picture.

Out of 53,459 women undergoing mammography, 434 pneumocystographic examinations were performed in 338 patients. Thirteen benign and 13 malignant intracystic tumors were detected, for a frequency of 6.0%. Intracystic cancers comprised 1.3% of all malignant tumors. Neither visual nor cytological examination of cyst fluid was sufficient to detect or rule out cancer, and the authors feel that pneumocystography is the only reliable method. Excision is the preferred therapy, and histological examination is the definitive method of differentiating benign from malignant tumors. In more than 97% of cases, pneumocystography of simple cysts is therapeutic. Without evidence of intracystic tumor on pneumocystography, cyst removal is unnecessary. The patient can be followed up with mammography, and any recurrent or new cysts can be diagnosed and treated by pneumocystography alone.

The authors performed xerosialography on 41 patients with various diseases of the salivary glands. In 38 patients this provided positive information. Each of eight submandibular sialograms was abnormal; of the 33 parotid examinations, three benign salivary tumours could not be demonstrated radiologically. Xeroradiography is a useful method for the examination of the major salivary glands. It is superior to the traditional film method.

The authors have compared the average absorbed dose and the skin exposure per picture from conventional (30 kV, Mo anode, 0.03 mm Mo filter) mammography with that from xeroradiography (38--42 kV, W anode, 1--2 mm Al total filtration). The average absorbed dose per xeromammogram is 4--5 mGy (0.4--0.5 rad), about four times less than in film-mammography. This value is equal to that obtained by others using the DuPont "Lo Dose I" system but is an order of magnitude higher than that published in the literature for Kodak "Mini-R" and "Trimax-rare earth" 3M system. The consumables per picture are about nine times cheaper in xeromammography than in film-mammography.

The authors carried out comparative examinations on 30 patients in order to determine whether xeroradiography had any advantages over film techniques in the examination of the soft tissues of the extremities. The xerograms show fatty degeneration of muscle fibres margins of individual muscles, calcification, oedema and so on, more clearly and are therefore of more value in diagnosis. The saving in time, using xerograms, is significant and conventional photo-copies can be obtained without logetronics.

The Fibor-Adeno-Lipoma is a rarely seen benign lesion of the breast. The encapsulated tumor is smoothly outlined. The capsule can be well visualized by mammography. The lesion contains different amount of fibroglandular tissue. In that way the mammographic appearance is characteristic and diagnosis becomes easy. The authors discuss the clinical and radiological appearance of the Fibro-Adeno-Lipoma on the basis of 7 cases.

Galactography was performed in 204 women with a nipple discharge and the secretion confirmed histopathologically. All 116 intraductal tumors (papilloma, papillomatosis, carcinoma), which were associated with a serous or bloody discharge, were detected preoperatively. A palpable mass had little diagnostic significance, and exfoliative cytology was positive in only 11% (2/18) of the patients with carcinoma. The authors recommend that all patients with a spontaneous bloody or serous discharge from a single lactiferous orifice undergo galactography in addition to physical, cytological, and mammographic examination. Intraductal injection of methylene blue dye will demonstrate the affected duct system to the surgeon and can often make surgery less radical or even unnecessary.

The authors report on their four years' experience in oncologic mass examinations focused on the age group above 30. After 43980 serial examinations, they performed mammography in 3082 women with mammary cancer risk. 156 operations were performed, and 33 histologically established cases of mammary carcinoma were recorded, with 21 early-stage cases. Of 21 occult tumors, 18 did not manifest any metastases. Thanks to the epidemiologic questionnaire, 10 mammary cancer patients were registered. The score of confirmed findings exceeded quantitatively, and, especially, qualitatively, the mammary carcinoma morbidity of the region. The results prove the feasibility of the combined method. The major part of the population did not appear for mass examination. The advanced stage of the 55 cases of breast cancer belonging to this group, as well as that of the 10 cases of which became manifest during the examination interval, would indicate that much is to be said for a more effective health promotion campaign among the population.

Pneumocystography established the preoperative diagnosis of 20 intracystic breast tumours including 9 benign intracystic papillomas and 11 cases of intracystic carcinoma generally considered to be a rarity. The method is described and details about the clinical and radiologic appearances of both benign and malignant intracystic tumours are given. The importance and advantages of the method are emphasized.

The authors have demonstrated subcutaneous calcification which is characteristic for pseudo-pseudo-hypoparathyroidism (pph) and which is best shown by xero-radiography. If the presence of pph is suspected, or if it needs to be distinguished from some other condition, it is valuable to obtain xerograms of the soft tissues of the extremities. In pph the subcutaneous calcification is in all probability derived from the skeleton.

The authors gave a useful sketch of the essence of xeroradiography. Their method has proved to be optimal in demonstrating the soft tissues of the extremities in vivo. The paper provides us with a better cognition of the morphology and pathomorphology of soft tissues of the extremities.

The authors determined the surface absorbed dose (Ds = 67-68 mGy) and the average absorbed dose (Dav = 13-15 mGy) by means of non-screen film radiography of the extremities. The authors recommend the use of xeroradiography (with a tungsten anode tube) or, first of all, a rare-earth screen - film combination (e.g. Kodak min-R + Nuklearmedizin NMB film). The two methods permit the dose values to be decreased by a factor of about 4 and 15, respectively. The dose values are smaller, at least for the 8 cm thick tissue equivalent phantom, when a tungsten anode is used instead of a Mo anode.

For diagnosing lesions of cervical intervertebral disks, pneumomyelography is carried out in addition to diskography in cases with an indication for surgery. The application of xeroradiography in pneumomyelography is discussed for the first time. In contrast to the conventional X-ray film technique, xeroradiograms yield shraper contours at the gas/tissue interface.