US Pharm. 2014;39(2):35.
New research from scientists at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine indicate that in women in their 40s undergoing routing screening, mammography helps find smaller tumors that are less likely to require chemotherapy.
The findings, published in the February issue of American Journal of Roentgenology, contradict 2009 guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommending against annual mammography screening for women in that age range. The American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and other professional societies recommend annual examinations beginning at age 40 years.
In the study, the authors compared women undergoing routine mammography screening and women with a symptom requiring a diagnostic workup. They found that patients undergoing screening mammography were diagnosed at earlier stages with smaller tumors and were less likely to require chemotherapy. The researchers also found that screening detects high-risk lesions, which may lower future breast cancer risk.
