The American College of Radiology (ACR) is endorsing a Swedish study published online in Cancer that confirms that annual mammography screening of women in their 40s reduces the breast cancer death rate in this population by nearly 30%.
The research is the largest study ever conducted of women in this age group and concludes that using the age of 50 as a threshold for breast cancer screening is scientifically unfounded, the ACR said. It recommends that women begin annual mammograms at age 40.
In a prepared statement, Carol Lee, MD, chair of the ACR's Breast Imaging Commission, said the study "shows without a doubt that mammography decreases deaths from breast cancer in women aged 40-49 by nearly one-third. There is no excuse not to recommend that average-risk women begin annual screening mammography at age 40."
The trial followed more than 600,000 women for 16 years. The number of breast cancer deaths among the women in the study who did not receive mammograms was twice as high as for those who underwent screening.
In November 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) withdrew its recommendation for screening women ages 40 to 49. The ACR said the study published in Cancer is based on real-world numbers and proves that the benefit is nearly twice that of the USPSTF estimate of 15%.
Related Reading
Study offers comparison of conebeam breast CT to mammo, July 27, 2010
The breast screening hullabaloo: Where are we today? August 19, 2010
HHS rules support earlier mammography, July 14, 2010
Senator asks HHS to strike USPSTF guidelines, May 12, 2010
Authors of Nordic mammo study no strangers to controversy, April 6, 2010
Copyright © 2010 AuntMinnie.com
