Organized breast screening: Answers to recurring controversies.
The reduction in mortality specifically from breast cancer, demonstrated in the major meta-analyses in the 1980s resulted in public health breast cancer screening programs being set up in many countries, including France. Recent publications have challenged the usefulness of screening, by insisting in particular on the negative effects of overdiagnosis and the lack of any significant impact on mortality. From analysis of the literature and particularly independent reviews published in 2012, we provide some answers for doctors faced with the legitimate concerns of women. These studies confirm that screening in the right age group reduces specific mortality by at least 20% at a cost of overdiagnosis estimated at between 1 and 15%.
Imaging Department, Oscar-Lambret Regional Cancer Center, 3, rue Frederic-Combemale, 59000 Lille, France. Electronic address: scientifique@o-lambret.fr.
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Ceugnart
Medical Imaging Center, 89, rue du General-de-Gaulle, 77230 Dammartin en Goele, France.
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M
Deghaye
Breast Department, Oscar-Lambret Regional Cancer Center, 59000 Lille, France.
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Vennin
135, avenue Vauban, 93190 Livry-Gargan, France.
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S
Haber
Imaging Department, Oscar-Lambret Regional Cancer Center, 3, rue Frederic-Combemale, 59000 Lille, France.
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Taieb
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
Breast screening; Mammogram; Overdiagnosis