title: Current status of screening mammography.
abstract: The results of RCTs conducted around the world indicate that screening mammography can substantially reduce death rates from breast cancer among women aged 40 years and over. Compelling evidence suggests that annual screening should be more effective than screening offered every 1 to 2 years. Annual screening beginning at age 40 years is now recommended by the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Radiology* Based on Swedish studies, it is likely that screening mammography can reduce breast cancer deaths by at least 50%. Screening mammography is highly cost-effective and can be performed at acceptable levels of radiation risk and rates of false-positive biopsies. By recommending screening mammography to their patients, the primary care physician can have a pivotal role in reducing the death rate from a major disease of women, similar to the effectiveness of screening for carcinoma of the cervix.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA. stephen.feig@mountsinai.org
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Feig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors