U.S. experts suggest lowering age of breast cancer screening
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has proposed lowering the age for routine mammography screening from 50 to 40. However, there is no recommendation for or against screening in women age 75 or older, or for additional screening in women with dense breast tissue.USPSTF experts published a draft statement with updated recommendations for breast cancer screening and a review of the evidence on the benefits of interventions.
The main change was a proposal to lower the recommended age for starting routine mammography screening from 50 to 40 years of age. Screening was recommended every two years until the threshold age of 74. These recommendations were last updated in 2016, at which time the USPSTF recommended starting routine mammography screening at age 50.
The decision was influenced not only by the frequent detection of breast cancer in women after age 40, but also by evidence of benefit for specific groups: in particular, the most significant effect of earlier initiation of screening is expected in black patients.
The new draft recommendations also highlight continuing gaps in knowledge about the use of mammography in screening, despite widespread use of the tool over many years.
The use of breast cancer screening in women age 75 and older, as well as additional screening in patients with dense breast tissue, has not had sufficient evidence, so the USPSTF has not made recommendations for or against screening for these groups.
The task force will accept public comments on the draft recommendation update until June 5.