Research Article

EVALUATION OF SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY RESULTS IN A COHORT OF FEMALE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Oiza Tessy Ahmadu1*, Uchechukwu E. Nwokwu2, Olayinka B. Popoola3, Adaugo C. Iheanacho3, Lateef Lawal3, Amarachi. N. Onyebuchi3, Rahama Y. Tahir3, Tolulope Oloyede4, Saad A Ahmed5
1 Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
2 Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
3 Federal Medical Centre Abuja, Nigeria
4 Federal Medical Centre Abuja
5 Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
* Corresponding author: tessyoiza@yahoo.com
Published: Feb, 2026
DOI: 10.67579/njo.2026.g1reavco
Pages: 73-86
Views: 374
Downloads: 165

Abstract

Background: Mammographic screening has significantly reduced breast cancer mortality in developed countries. However, data on screening outcomes in asymptomatic populations in Nigeria remain limited.

Objective: To determine the distribution of BI-RADS categories and breast density patterns among asymptomatic women undergoing screening mammography at Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among asymptomatic female staff aged 40 years and above who underwent routine screening mammography at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, in February 2024. Data were obtained from radiology records, categorised by age group, and analysed using descriptive and comparative statistical methods.

Results: Majority of the participants were aged 40–49-years, with a mean age of 47.14 ± 5.37 years. Regarding the breast density, BI-RADS category B (scattered fibroglandular density) was the most common, observed in 49% of participants. In terms of mammographic assessment, BI-RADS category 1 (normal) was the most frequently reported, accounting for 58% of cases. Inferential analysis revealed a significant association between age group and breast density (χ2 = 5.545, p = 0.0185), with higher-density breasts more common among younger women, while no significant association was observed between age group and BI-RADS category (χ2 = 0.633, p = 0.426).

Conclusion: Screening mammography in this population was predominantly utilised by women under 50 years of age, with normal or benign findings and scattered fibroglandular breast density being most common. The observed association between age and breast density highlights the importance of age-targeted screening strategies. These findings provide insight into breast health patterns and can inform resource-optimised, institution-based screening programs in resource-limited settings.

Keywords

Breast cancer Mammography screening BIRADS category Breast density.

References

  1. Obajimi MO, Adeniji-Sofuluwe ATS, Oluwasola AO, Adedokun BO, Soyemi TO, Olopade F, Newstead G. Mammographic breast pattern in Nigerian women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Breast Dis. 2011 Mar 15;33(1):9–15.
  2. American College of Radiology. ACR BI-RADS breast imaging and reporting data system: breast imaging atlas. 4th ed. Reston (VA): American College of Radiology; 2003. p. 3.
  3. Akinola R, et al. Mammographic findings in Nigerian women [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 21]. Available from: https://www.academicjournals.org/app/webroot/article/article1380272448_Akinola%20et%20al.pdf
  4. Awosanya GO, Jeje EA, Bayagbona D, Inem VA. Screening and diagnostic mammographic findings of 115 consecutive Nigerian women: a two-year study in a city private hospital. Niger Q J Hosp Med. 2008;14(2). Available from: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/nqjhm/article/view/12713
  5. D'Orsi CJ, Sickles EA, Mendelson EB, Morris EA, editors. ACR BI-RADS atlas: breast imaging reporting and data system: mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, follow-up and outcome monitoring, data dictionary. 5th ed. Reston (VA): American College of Radiology; 2013.
  6. Alomaim W, O'Leary D, Ryan J, Rainford L, Evanoff M, Foley S. Variability of breast density classification between US and UK radiologists. J Med Imaging Radiat Sci. 2019 Mar;50(1):53–61.
  7. Martei YM, Dauda B, Vanderpuye V. Breast cancer screening in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and ethical appraisal. BMC Cancer. 2022;22(1):203.
  8. Rilwanu MD, Jega MA, Jimeta-Tuko JD, Buhari S. Analysis of screening mammography in a tertiary health facility in Birnin Kebbi, Northwest Nigeria [Internet]. 2024 Nov 19 [cited 2025 Nov 19]. Available from: https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.14189596
  9. Akande H, Olafimihan B, Oyinloye O. A five-year audit of mammography in a tertiary hospital, North Central Nigeria. Niger Med J. 2015;56(3):213.
  10. Akhigbe A, Akinola R, Ighodaro E. Screening mammography findings among some Nigerian women. J Adv Med Res. 2017 Jan 10;24(6):1–7.
  11. Oppong BA, Dash C, O'Neill S, Li Y, Makambi K, Pien E, Makariou E, Coleman T, Adams-Campbell LL. Breast density in multiethnic women presenting for screening mammography. Breast J. 2018 May;24(3):334–8.
  12. Akwo J, Hadadi I, Ekpo E. Diagnostic efficacy of five different imaging modalities in the assessment of women recalled at breast screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Oct 17;16(20):3505.
  13. Chang WM, Chen YC, Lu IC, Chen JL, Chuang HY. The association between mammography reports and women's age using retrospective data from a medical system. Front Glob Womens Health. 2025 Jun 10;6:1561669.
  14. The Radiology Assistant. BI-RADS for mammography and ultrasound 2013 [Internet]. [cited 2025 Dec 11]. Available from: https://radiologyassistant.nl/breast/bi-rads/bi-rads-for-mammography-and-ultrasound-2013
  15. Suppaya K, Nasir FM, Ghani AA. Variations of BI-RADS 5 in mammography by age, ethnicity, and breast density: a retrospective study in University Malaya Medical Centre. Asian J Med Biomed. 2020 Nov 28;4(SI1):11–6.
  16. McHugh ML. The chi-square test of independence. Biochem Med (Zagreb). 2013;23(2):143–9.
  17. Omidiji OAT, Campbell PC, Irurhe NK, Atalabi OM, Toyobo OO. Breast cancer screening in a resource-poor country: ultrasound versus mammography. Ghana Med J. 2017 Apr;51(1):6.
  18. Ogolodom MP. Breast imaging findings among asymptomatic women who underwent screening mammographic examination in Port Harcourt, South-South, Nigeria. AJBSR. 2020 May 7;8(6):469–72.
  19. Ebubedike U, Umeh E, Anyanwu SC. Mammographic findings of breast cancer screening in patients with positive family history in South-East Nigeria. Niger J Clin Pract. 2018;21(6):801.
  20. Minouche C, Mukaya J, Mbongo A, Luyeye G, Mazoba T, Molua A, Lelo M. Contribution of mammography in the screening of suspicious breast cancer lesions in Congolese women in Kinshasa. Asian Pac J Cancer Care. 2023 Mar 2;8(1):59–64.
  21. Itanyi UD, Bagudu Z, Iloanusi N, Kaalu WO. Practice of mammography in a private Nigerian cancer foundation: our experience. West Afr J Med. 2024 Apr 30;41(4):381–6.
  22. Galukande M, Kiguli-Malwadde E. Mammographic breast density patterns among a group of women in sub-Saharan Africa. Afr Health Sci. 2013 Feb;12(4):422–5.
  23. Boyd NF, Guo H, Martin LJ, Sun L, Stone J, Fishell E, Jong RA, Hislop G, Chiarelli A, Minkin S, Yaffe MJ. Mammographic density and the risk and detection of breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jan 18;356(3):227–36.
  24. Ehsanbakhsh AR, Toosi FS, Khorashadizadeh N. Different BIRADS Categories in Screening and Diagnostic Mammography [Internet]. Iranian Journal of Radiology; 2009 [cited 2025 July 25]. Report No.: 6. Available from: https://brieflands.com/articles/ijradiology-78959#abstract
  25. Joshi P. Benign Lesions on Screening Mammography: Increasing Diagnostic Confidence in a Hitherto Unscreened Population. JCDR [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2025 July 25]; Available from: http://jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?issn=0973-709x&year=2017&volume=11&issue=9&page=TC14&issn=0973-709x&id=10673
  26. Abiodun AA, Abiodun JA, Eletta AE, Gomna A, Adekanye AO, Okunoye-M Y, Abdullah BS, Okinbaloye SA, Abdulrahman T, Yusuf A, Rotimi B. Breast cancer knowledge and screening practices among female nurses in a tertiary hospital in North Central, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Medicine. 2022 Nov 29;31(5):585–90.
  27. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2021 May;71(3):209–49.
  28. WHO position paper on mammography screening [Internet]. [cited 2025 July 25]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241507936
How to Cite

Ahmadu, O. T., Nwokwu, U. E., Popoola, O. B., Iheanacho, A. C., Lawal, L., Onyebuchi, A. N., Tahir, R. Y., Oloyede, T., & Ahmed, S. A. (2026). EVALUATION OF SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY RESULTS IN A COHORT OF FEMALE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER, ABUJA, NIGERIA. Nigerian Journal of Oncology, 2(1), 73-86. https://doi.org/10.67579/njo.2026.g1reavco

O. T. Ahmadu, U. E. Nwokwu, O. B. Popoola, A. C. Iheanacho, L. Lawal, A. N. Onyebuchi, R. Y. Tahir, T. Oloyede, and S. A. Ahmed, "EVALUATION OF SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY RESULTS IN A COHORT OF FEMALE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER, ABUJA, NIGERIA," Nigerian Journal of Oncology, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 73-86, February 2026. doi: 10.67579/njo.2026.g1reavco

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF View Full Text (PDF) Back to Articles