Screening mammography reduces morbidity of breast cancer treatment.
OBJECTIVE
This commentary discusses the retrospective cohort study by Barth et al. studying the effect of screening mammography on morbidity of breast cancer treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Barth et al. found that cancers identified at screening mammography (versus those detected by physical examination) were smaller and more frequently node-negative. Hence, the former group of breast cancer patients was more likely to be treated with less morbid therapy. This evidence-based study contributes to the clinical practice of screening mammography.
Leung
Jessica W T
JW
Division of Breast Imaging, University of California-San Francisco, 1600 Divisadero St., Ste. H2801, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. Jessica.Leung@ucsfmedctr.org
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors