Screening for Breast Cancer

Release Date: November 2009
Updated: December 2009

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This topic page summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on breast cancer screening.

Summary of Recommendations / Supporting Documents

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Summary of Recommendations

• The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.
  Grade: B recommendation.
• The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms.
  Grade: C recommendation.
• The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years or older.
  Grade: I Statement.
• The USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).
  Grade: D recommendation.
• The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of clinical breast examination (CBE) beyond screening mammography in women 40 years or older.
  Grade: I Statement.
• The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of either digital mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instead of film mammography as screening modalities for breast cancer.
  Grade: I Statement.

 

On December 4, 2009, the USPSTF unanimously voted to update the language of their recommendation regarding women under 50 years of age to clarify their original and continued intent.

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Supporting Documents

Screening for Breast Cancer, November 2009
Recommendation Statement (PDF File, 300 KB; PDF Help)
Supporting Article (PDF File, 200 KB; PDF Help)
Evidence Update Article (PDF File, 350 KB; PDF Help)
Evidence Synthesis (PDF File, 1 MB; PDF Help)
Clinical Summary (PDF File, 133 KB; PDF Help)

The Department of Health and Human Services, in implementing the Affordable Care Act under the standard it sets out in revised Section 2713(a)(5) of the Public Health Service Act, utilizes the 2002 recommendation on breast cancer screening of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

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Current as of July 2010

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Internet Citation:

Screening for Breast Cancer, Topic Page. July 2010. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsbrca.htm

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