The Algorithm Booklet (2005)

Breast Cancer Diagnostic Algorithms for Primary Care Providers
(Third Edition, June 2005)

Acknowledgements

Breast Cancer Diagnostic Algorithms for Primary Care Providers (Algorithms) is the product of the California Department of Health Services Cancer Detection Section (CDS). The Breast Expert Workgroup, a volunteer panel of California clinicians, provides leadership and consultation to CDS. These algorithms provide guidelines and are based on an informal consensus development process.

CDS administers the state and federally funded Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts! The program provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to eligible underserved, low-income women in California. Additionally, CDS provides community outreach and education, quality assurance, professional education and evaluation and research services.

The Algorithms were originally published in 1997. This third edition incorporates updates on guidelines, research and technologies, especially the use of ultrasound, assessment of risk, and interpretation of pathology.

Workgroup Members

• Lawrence D Wagman, MD, Chairman, Division of Surgery, and Director, Department of General Oncologic Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA (Workgroup Chairman)
• Lawrence Bassett, MD, Iris Cantor Professor of Breast Imaging, Iris Cantor Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Ernie Bodai, MD, Director, Breast Surgical Services, The Breast Health Center Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento, CA
• R. James Brenner, MD, Director of Breast Imaging, Eisenberg Keefer Breast Center, St. Johns Hospital, Santa Monica, CA
• Barbara Florentine, MD, Medical Director, Department of Pathology, Henry Mayo Hospital, Valencia, CA
• Ian Grady, MD, North Valley Breast Center, Redding, CA
• Patty Hansen, MD, Medical Doctors Imaging, Redding, CA
• Lydia Howell, MD, Associate Dean, Professor of Pathology, University of California, Davis, Davis Medical Center, CA
• George Khoury, MD, Stockton Diagnostic Radiology and Ultrasound, Stockton, CA
• Michael Lagios, MD, Pathologist, St. Mary’s Health Center, San Francisco, CA
• Debbie Lawler, FNP, MSN, Santa Ana, CA
• Britt-Marie Ljung, MD, Professor of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
• Julie Ohnemus, MD, Family Physician, Arcata, CA
• Linda Olson, MD, Professor of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA
• Maren Scheuner, MD, MPH, FACMG, Visiting Associate Professor, University of California, LA, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA and ATPM Fellow, Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA
• Amy Shaw, MD, Family Physician, Santa Rosa, CA

CDS acknowledges and appreciates the voluntary contributions of these Workgroup members and of the many California-based clinicians who participated in the review phase and/or field-testing of this document.

Project Staff (Third Edition)

California Department of Health Services, Cancer Detection Section

• Marcus Doane, MD, MPH
• Cathy Hare
• Joan Hurlock, RN, MS, EdD
• Kathleen Mintert, LCSW
• Candace Moorman, MPH (Project Lead)
• Caroline Peck, MD, MPH, FACOG

San Diego State University Graduate School of Public Health

• Suzanne Lindsay, PhD, MSW, MPH
• Sherry Patheal, MPH
• Marie Falcon, RN, BSN, PHN

Project Consultant

Pro-Health Inc.

• Nancy Dunn, RN, MS

CDS also acknowledges Liana Lianov, MD, former CDS Chief, for spearheading the development of the 1st and 2nd editions and for serving as a reviewer for this 3rd edition.

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