Health and Fitness

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Issues Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screenting


Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)–November 17, 2009.  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) today issued its recommendations for breast cancer screening.  USPSTF is an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that systematically reviews the evidence of effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical  preventive services.

One of the USPSTF’s recommendations relates to the age when women should begin routine mammogram screening.  Currently, the American Cancer Society recommends annual mammogram screening for all women beginning at age 40.  The USPSTF no longer recommends routine screening for women between the ages of 40 and 49.

A summary of the USPSTF’s full recommendations are listed below.

  • The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient’s values regarding specific benefits and harms.
    Grade: C recommendation.
  • The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.
    Grade: B recommendation.
  • The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years or older.
    Grade: I Statement.
  • The USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).
    Grade: D recommendation.
  • The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of clinical breast examination (CBE) beyond screening mammography in women 40 years or older.
    Grade: I Statement.
  • The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of either digital mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instead of film mammography as screening modalities for breast cancer.
    Grade: I Statement.

 

Source:  ahrq.gov

 


ARCHIVES