[Is breast cancer screening effective? (author's transl)].

Two groups of patients consisting of women with and without breast symptoms are compared. They were mammographed in the same institute under identical technical conditions. Carcinomas found by screening were considerably less advanced. The findings confirm the experience of numerous authors that screening improves the prognosis; applied tandem method--physical examination and mammography--is far from ideal, but represents at present the best method to reduce breast cancer mortality. The final conclusion is to intensify the screening programs.