What is the most appropriate breast-cancer screening interval for women aged 45 to 49 years in New Zealand?
OBJECTIVE
To review the international evidence on the benefits and harms of different screening intervals for women aged 45 to 49 years, and to inform the development of a national policy.


METHODS
A systematic search and review of the literature, up to March 2005.


RESULTS
There is no robust trial evidence on which to base a decision on the most appropriate breast-cancer screening interval for women aged 45 to 49 years, and it is unlikely that definitive trial evidence will ever emerge. Evidence from less robust studies is equivocal.


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of definitive evidence, those charged with determining the screening interval for women aged 45 to 49 years in a breast-cancer screening programme have to weigh up the available evidence, and consider it alongside other relevant factors. A two-yearly screening interval for women aged 45 to 49 was decided upon, and became policy in New Zealand.
Baker
Simon
S
National Screening Unit, Ministry of Health, Wellington, New Zealand. Simon_Baker@moh.govt.nz
Wall
Madeleine
M
Bloomfield
Ashley
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009520:New Zealand; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors