Will screening mammography in the East do more harm than good?
OBJECTIVE
We sought to systematically review the evidence for population-based mammography as applied to a Chinese population.


METHODS
Primary reports for meta-analysis were identified by a search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library. Outcome measures included breast cancer-related mortality, the number needed to be screened to prevent 1 death, and the positive predictive value of mammography.


RESULTS
Pooled relative risk for breast cancer-related death in the screened group was 0.80 (95% confidence interval = 0.71, 0.90). Applied to Hong Kong, this figure translates into a number needed to screen of 1 302 healthy women screened annually for 10 years to prevent 1 death.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence is insufficient to justify population-based breast cancer screening by mammography for women in Hong Kong and other Asian populations with low breast cancer prevalence.
Leung
Gabriel M
GM
Department of Community Medicine, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Hong Kong. gmleung@hku.hk
Lam
Tai-Hing
TH
Thach
Thuan Q
TQ
Hedley
Anthony J
AJ
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health