OBJECTIVE: To present an audit model for mammography results used on the examinations performed at "Centro de Diagnóstico Mamário da Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro", Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 1997 and September 1998, 2,000 mammography examinations were performed, 1,570 in asymptomatic women, which results were assessed in this audit. RESULTS: The mammography examinations of the asymptomatic women were classified as follow: category 1 - 1,362 cases; category 2 - 9 cases; category 3 - 95 cases; category 4 - 24 cases; category 5 - 6 cases; category 0 - 74 cases. Out of 199 abnormal examinations (categories 0, 3, 4 and 5), 107 (54%) were followed-up and 92 (46%) were lost to follow-up. The 107 cases included in the study were classified as follows: category 3 - 48 cases; category 4 - 18 cases; category 5 - 4 cases; category 0 - 37 cases. No cases of cancer were detected among the 48 cases in category 3; two cases of cancer were seen among the 18 cases in category 4; all four cases in category 5 were cancer; one case of cancer was seen among the 37 cases in category 0. The audit values obtained were the following: positive predictive value (based on the exam with abnormal result) - 11%; positive predictive value (when there was indication for biopsy) - 31%. The rate of cancer detection in 1,570 women was of seven cases; the sensitivity was 100%; the specificity was 96%; and the recall rate was 4.7%. CONCLUSION: All these results reproduce data from the literature.

Keywords: Audit, Mammography, BI-RADS

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adherence of a hospital female personnel to a program for breast cancer prevention by means of mammography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was developed with 91 female workers evaluated by means of a questionnaire and follow-up of the periodicity of mammographic studies in the period from 2000 to 2009. RESULTS: A total of 247 mammography studies were performed. Compliance with the periodicity schedule was informed by 48 of the participants, 12.6% of them by medical request, 47.9% because they were aware of the relevance of such study, 4.1% because of previous family history of cancer, and 35.4% as a clinical routine. Forty-three participants did not comply with the periodicity schedule, 37.3% of them because they had not a medical request, 20.9% because they could not have it done through the Sistema Único de Saúde (Brazilian Unified Health System), 18.6% for fear, and 23.2% due to unawareness about the relevance of such an examination. CONCLUSION: The participation in the program was low. The adherence to the program was poor in the hospital because of the unawareness about breast cancer prevention.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Secondary prevention; Health care; Hospital environment.