Screening Mammography in Women 40 to 49 Years of Age

Abstract

While there is strong agreement among experts and evidence in the literature to recommend that women 50 to 69 years of age undergo screening with mammography for breast cancer, the question of screening women 40 to 49 years of age is controversial. The results of most studies suggest that screening with mammography in women 40 to 49 years of age may reduce mortality from breast cancer, but these reductions are small (i.e., fewer than 1 in 10,000 per year).[Strength of recommendation: B, based on meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with inconsistent findings.]