Researchers at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care performed a review of women between the ages of 40 and 49 years old who had mammography screenings at the Rochester, N.Y.-based breast imaging center from 2000 to 2010, according to an RSNA news release.
They found that 373 women in that age group were diagnosed with breast cancer as a result of screening during the 10-year time period, with 39% reporting a family history of the disease and 61% with no family history of breast cancer.
Of the women with the family history, about 63% of the patients had invasive breast cancer and about 37% had noninvasive breast cancer. Of the women with no family history of breast cancer, the researchers said that 64% were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 36% had noninvasive breast cancer.
“We believe this study demonstrates the importance of mammography screening for women in this age group, which is in opposition to the recommendations issued by the task force,” said Dr. Stamatia Destounis, a managing partner at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, in the news release.
In 2009, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force said women in the 40- to 49-year-old age group who have no family history or predisposition for breast cancer should no longer undergo routine mammography. The American College of Radiology and the Access to Medical Imaging Coalition criticized the recommendation.
