You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Therapeutics
Review: mammography reduces breast cancer mortality rates

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.8.2.45

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    (2002) Ann Intern Med 137, 347. Humphrey LL, Helfand M, Chan BK, et al.. Breast cancer screening: a summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.. ;. :. –60.

    
 
 QUESTION: How effective is breast cancer screening with mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE), and breast self examination (BSE) in preventing breast cancer mortality?

    Data sources

    Studies were identified by searching Medline (1994–2001), Premedline (December 2001 to February 2002), and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register; reviewing the reference lists of previous reviews, commentaries, and meta-analyses; and contacting experts in the field.

    Study selection

    Studies were selected if they were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of breast cancer screening and had a relevant clinical outcome (advanced breast cancer, breast cancer mortality, or all cause mortality).

    Data extraction

    Data were extracted on patient population, study design, potential flaws, missing information, analysis, and length of follow up. US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria were used to assess study quality (good, fair, or poor). The primary endpoint was breast cancer mortality.

    Main results

    8 RCTs (479 987 women) (154 publications) met the selection criteria: 4 evaluated mammography, and 4 evaluated mammography plus CBE. 7 trials were rated fair quality, and 1 was rated poor quality. The mean follow up was 14 years. Meta-analysis of the 7 fair trials showed that mammography screening led to …

    View Full Text

    Footnotes

    • For correspondence: Dr L L Humphrey, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Humphrey.Linda{at}portland.va.gov

    • Abstract and commentary also appear in ACP Journal Club.

    • Source of funding: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.