The ACR (American College of Radiology) and SBI (Society of Breast Imaging) have responded to what they describe as a controversial study published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) which claims that falling breast cancer death rates have little to do with mammography screening.
The European authors said this week that there is no evidence that mammography played a direct role in reducing breast cancer mortality.
In a communiqué, the ACR and SBI wrote:
“These conclusions have little bearing on, or resemblance to, screening in the United States where mammography’s life-saving impact is well documented.”
Both the ACR and SBI say that there was a sudden increase in the incidence of breast cancer in the USA and an abrupt drop in death rates which started soon after screening became routinely offered in the mid-1980s and early 1990s.
Before mammography screening was introduced, breast cancer death rates in the USA had remained generally unchanged for 50 years, the ACR and SBI explain.
They also say that there are some “scientific shortcomings” in the BMJ paper which may have affected the findings.
Both the ACR and SBI say women aged 40+ years should continue having their annual mammograms.
Written by Christian Nordqvist