More of the same from USPSTF regarding breast cancer screening
January 14, 2016
Population Health
Risk Management
Women's Health
X-Ray
By Gail Kalinoski, Contributing Reporter
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued its final report on breast screening for women, saying once again that it recommends women with average risk for breast cancer should get mammograms every two years between the ages of 50 and 75.
The recommendations, similar to an April draft as well as its 2009 report, continue to be controversial with different age ranges suggested by other groups including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society.
ACOG is planning a late January conference and invited more than 30 organizations to discuss the issue and try and come to a consensus, according to The Wall Street Journal. That group recommends yearly mammograms beginning at age 49 while the ACS recently changed its guidelines to every year between age 45 and 55 and then every two years.
The Task Force did acknowledge that mammography screening every two years can reduce deaths from breast cancer but still suggested woman of average risk in their 40s should discuss the benefits of breast screenings with their doctors.
“The chance of benefiting from screening is less than for older women, and the potential harms are proportionately greater,” the Task Force said in a statement on its website. “For this reason, the Task Force recommends women ages 40 to 49 make their own decision whether and when to get a mammogram, in consultation with their doctors. This decision should be based on their health history, preferences, and how they value the potential benefits and harms of screening.”
For women 75 and older, and those with dense breasts, the Task Force said more study was needed to make guidelines.
So what’s different than the 2009 recommendations? For the first time, the Task Force considered effectiveness of digital breast tomosynthesis, noting the 3-D image is an emerging technology. The group stated there was very little evidence that 3-D mammography was ultimately effective in improving quality of life, or in reducing harms from treatment, or death, and so it could not make a recommendation on its use.
The group said it also reviewed studies of analog (film) mammography and digital mammography because it wanted to use all available evidence to help women make screening decisions.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued its final report on breast screening for women, saying once again that it recommends women with average risk for breast cancer should get mammograms every two years between the ages of 50 and 75.
The recommendations, similar to an April draft as well as its 2009 report, continue to be controversial with different age ranges suggested by other groups including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society.
ACOG is planning a late January conference and invited more than 30 organizations to discuss the issue and try and come to a consensus, according to The Wall Street Journal. That group recommends yearly mammograms beginning at age 49 while the ACS recently changed its guidelines to every year between age 45 and 55 and then every two years.
The Task Force did acknowledge that mammography screening every two years can reduce deaths from breast cancer but still suggested woman of average risk in their 40s should discuss the benefits of breast screenings with their doctors.
“The chance of benefiting from screening is less than for older women, and the potential harms are proportionately greater,” the Task Force said in a statement on its website. “For this reason, the Task Force recommends women ages 40 to 49 make their own decision whether and when to get a mammogram, in consultation with their doctors. This decision should be based on their health history, preferences, and how they value the potential benefits and harms of screening.”
For women 75 and older, and those with dense breasts, the Task Force said more study was needed to make guidelines.
So what’s different than the 2009 recommendations? For the first time, the Task Force considered effectiveness of digital breast tomosynthesis, noting the 3-D image is an emerging technology. The group stated there was very little evidence that 3-D mammography was ultimately effective in improving quality of life, or in reducing harms from treatment, or death, and so it could not make a recommendation on its use.
The group said it also reviewed studies of analog (film) mammography and digital mammography because it wanted to use all available evidence to help women make screening decisions.
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