Rationale and Comments

Mammography identifies breast cancers at early stages and has demonstrated benefits in reducing mortality and morbidity from a breast cancer diagnosis. There is minimal benefit of screening mammography in women with life expectancies of < five years. Additionally, there is a risk of false positives and potential procedures that do not provide patients improved outcomes.

Sponsoring Organizations

• American Society of Breast Surgeons – Benign Breast Disease

Sources

• Expert consensus

Disciplines

• Geriatric Medicine
• Gynecologic
• Oncologic
• Preventive Medicine

References

• Schonberg MA, Breslau ES, McCarthy EP. Targeting of mammography screening according to life expectancy in women aged 75 and older. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2013;61:388-395.
  
• Walter LC, Schonberg MA. Screening mammography in older women: a review. JAMA. 2014;311:1336-1347.