Introduction
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the primary causes of oncological morbidity among women in the Republic of Uzbekistan, a country with a population exceeding 36 million. Mammographic screening is a proven and essential method for ensuring early diagnosis in women aged 45-65. Using the Bukhara region as a pilot project, a model for transitioning to organized population-based screening is being developed. The implementation of a unified RIS/PACS information system and a centralized "double-triple reading" protocol for mammograms is designed to address the issue of late detection, which accounted for up to 45% of cases (Stages III and IV) prior to 2021.
Aim of the Study
To evaluate the effectiveness of the centralized IT platform for mammographic breast cancer screening in the Bukhara region based on 2025 performance indicators and to define target indicators for the development of regional services through 2035.
Materials and Methods
An analysis was conducted on the screening results of 31796 women in the Bukhara region for the period from January to June 2025. The methodology included centralized "double and triple" interpretation of mammograms, with results categorized according to the BI-RADS system. The study utilized digital mammography units integrated into the "screening.mammo.uz" system for data processing and storage. For diagnostic verification, follow-up results of 676 patients (BI-RADS categories 0, 4 and 5) were analyzed. The resource base consists of 13 stationary and 2 mobile digital mammographs.
Results
In the first half of 2025, 31796 women underwent mammographic examination in the Bukhara region. Breast cancer was diagnosed in 129 cases among those screened.
The share of early stages (I, II) was 75.2% (97 out of 129 cases), which significantly exceeds the national average prior to the program's start and is comparable to indicators of international screening programs.
Distribution of BC cases by stage:
Stage I: 10 cases (7.7%)
 
Stage II: 87 cases (67.4%)
Advanced forms (Stages III–IV): 24.8%
Additionally, 1034 cases of benign pathologies (mastopathy, fibroadenomas) were identified, requiring clinical follow-up. The RIS/PACS system ensured efficient patient routing and quality control at all stages, from the initial image to diagnostic verification.
Conclusion
The experience in the Bukhara region demonstrates the viability of the digital screening model. The achieved early detection rate (75.1%) confirms the effectiveness of centralized "double reading." By 2035, the strategic priority will be to increase population coverage across Uzbekistan to 70% and integrate AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms to reduce interpretation time, ensuring compliance with WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) standards.
Keywords: Uzbekistan, breast cancer screening, Bukhara region, RIS/PACS, early diagnosis.