Resident training in a multidisciplinary breast clinic

A multidisciplinary breast clinic was initiated at William Beaumont Army Medical Center involving resident and staff physicians from the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Surgery, Radiology and Pathology. During the period August 1988 to May 1989, 2,186 mammograms (MOGs) were screened. For this report, 197 patients were evaluated. Of them, 187 patients had been referred to the breast clinic based on MOG findings. Pathologic specimen correlation with the mammograms was performed on a periodic basis. Thirty-four patients were biopsied based on either physical examination or MOG findings. Biopsy diagnoses included: normal tissue (1), fibrocystic disease (18), sclerosing adenosis (1), fibroadenoma (8), mastitis (1) and intraductal carcinoma (5). The Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic provided improved care through expedited patient management. Resident training was accomplished through refinement of examination and diagnostic skills, management of abnormal MOGs, needle aspiration of breast masses and improved communication between the different medical disciplines.