Screening Mammography for Women 40 to 49

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has published a systematic review of the risks and benefits of mammography screening for women aged 40 to 49 and an accompanying clinical practice guideline. Among the findings of the systematic review:

-- Mammography every 1 to 2 years decreases breast cancer mortality by about 15%.

-- There was no evidence that mammography reassured (or falsely reassured) women.

-- Indirect evidence suggests that radiation from mammography may be associated with a small increase in breast cancer.

-- Pain and discomfort during mammography are common.

-- False-positive mammograms occur in up to 56% of women screened yearly for a decade.

-- Indirect evidence suggests that overdiagnosis occurs (by identification of ductal ca…