The continuous development in breast diagnostics and screening made it necessary to bring together the Hungarian breast radiologists in a section which dealt with the problems of this subspecialty. The section was founded in 1998. By 2004 it had 256 affiliated members (21% of the Hungarian radiologists). The board consists of nine members, with elections every four years. In the past six years, the section was very successful. As the first step towards providing quality care in breast diagnostics, we surveyed the professional and technical facilities available to us in Hungary.
Thereafter, we made contacts among Hungarian and international breast organisations and professionals to seek their help and advice.
Main steps taken to ensure quality care in breat diagnostics:

• At the beginning, a review of the technical background and radiological knowledge in the field of Hungarian breast diagnostics.

• Creation of a “minimum requirements” list for screening and diagnostic examinations.

• Revision of the clinical codes for breast diagnostics, with suggestion to create a uniform coding system.

• Preparation of the Hungarian Breast Screening Program with the help of screening expert professor Zoltán Péntek.

• National Screening initiated in December 2001.

• Creation of the 1st version of the National Screening Protocol, including QC details (edition of the 2nd version of the National Screening Protocol currently in progress).

• Permission of Health Authorities for acceptance of breast vacuum core biopsy examination is under consideration.

• Important issue of training and refresher courses were instituted with the intention of providing uniform breast diagnostics knowledge and patient care. Significant number of refresher courses were organized by our section, on occasions with other disciplines. Members and leaders of our section are regular instructors on different meetings, for eg.: National Congress of Radiology, Hungarian Congress of Oncology, Hungarian Society of Sonology courses, Lelek Imre, St. Agathe meeting etc.

• Quality courses regularly organized by Szeged University (Szeged), the National Medical Center (Budapest) and in the framework of the annual French-Hungarian Radiology Symposium.

• Secretary General of our Section (Gábor Forrai) has been elected as a member of the Breast Subcommittee of the European Congress of Radiology for four years, with responsibility of presenting refresher courses.

• We have organized events in 1999 and 2004 where professors Tabar and Tot (Sweden) have conducted courses for Hungarian screening centers. Experts from Nijmegen, Netherlands (prof. Holland), France (Chopier, Dilhuydy), Nottingham, UK (prof. Wilson, Ellis), Sweden (Bone) and many others have shared their knowledge with us in the recent years.

• Our section’s annual meeting is held regularly with participation of more than 100 physicians and health-care professionals. The meeting is coupled with a scientific program and case discussions. Also, we regularly give importance to the questions arising in the medico-legal arena. Leaders of our section have participated as authors in educational books dealing with topics in breast cancer, ultrasonography and breast screening.