Joint Statement by the Gynecologic Radiology Study Group (AGR), the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), the German Society for Senology (DGS) and the Professional Association of Gynecologists (BVF)

Recent Findings on Mammography Screening – Scientific Appraisal

The criticisms directed against mammography screening in recent months have greatly unsettled the potential participants in screening programs. Supposedly, mammography screening would not achieve the reduction in mortality rates expected by seven randomized studies carried out more than 20 years ago. The execution of the studies and their evaluation would have been partially flawed. One of these studies, the randomized Canadian study (CNBSS) which found no reduction in breast cancer mortality rates, was cited as evidence for this. Moreover, it was posited that the improved prognosis resulting from the current use of adjuvant medication meant that early detection using mammography was unlikely to lead to significant decreases in breast cancer mortality.

• References

• 1 Coldman A, Phillips N, Wilson C et al. Pan-Canadian study of mammography screening and mortality from breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 2014; 106: pii:dju261
• 2 Marmot MG, Altman DG, Cameron DA et al. The benefits and harms of breast cancer screening: an independent review. Br J Cancer 2013; 108: 2205-2240
• 3 Health Council of the Netherlands. Population screening for breast cancer: expectations and developments. The Hague: Health Council of the Netherlands; 2014