Aims
To define and assess the benefits of screening mammography through the prism of significant and recent research, including important surveys, arguing that the conclusion of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) – regarding the disproportion in benefits and harm of the mentioned screening – is puzzling.
Main findings
RCTs tend to underestimate the essential advantages that the implementation of mammographic screening provides. These RCTs evaluate the reduction in mortality rates among females who were randomized to the groups of the invited ones to conduct mammographic screening but not those who took part in this screening indeed. It should be emphasized that invited women who had never had mammograms and died due to breast cancer are perceived as the ones who had been screened. Hence, the approved statistics by the USPSTF within the scope of the issue are irrelevant to an exact extent.
The authors state that there have been two observational studies that involved females who have undergone screening mammography. These studies report a 30 to 40% reduction in breast cancer mortality rates. Nevertheless, the findings of the mentioned two studies were not taken into account by the USPSTF while stating its official position regarding mammographic screening, which narrowed its focus to RCTs. Moreover, despite there being an exact degree of harm in mammographic screening, a survey has shown that the majority of females consider the positive effects of the procedure as a reasonable tradeoff.
Conclusions
Mammographic screening is the only test today that provides the opportunity to reduce mortality rates caused by breast cancer. Screening mammography that is undertaken once a year is proper for females who have reached the age of 40, given the fact that women assess benefits from the procedure as more significant than the harm.
References
Author: Wendie, B.
Title: Benefits of screening mammography Journal: JAMA 2010; 303(2): 168-169.