Mammography

About: Mammography is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 20643 publications have been published within this topic receiving 513679 citations.

Declines in Invasive Breast Cancer and Use of Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy in a Screening Mammography Population

Abstract: Whether a recent large decline in use of postmenopausal hormone therapy after the release of the Women's Health Initiative findings in July 2002 and/or a decline in screening mammography use is related to a recently reported decline in breast cancer incidence in the United States is controversial. We prospectively collected data from four screening mammography registries from January 1997 through December 2003 for 603411 screening mammography examinations performed on women aged 50-69 years. Of these women, 3238 were diagnosed with breast cancer within 12 months of a screening examination. We calculated quarterly rates of self-reported current postmenopausal hormone therapy use and of invasive breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and estrogen receptor (ER)-positive invasive breast cancer adjusted for age, registry, and time between screening examinations. All statistical tests were two-sided. Between 2000 and 2002 and between 2002 and 2003, annual rates of postmenopausal hormone therapy use declined by 7% and 34%, respectively (P(trend) < .001 for both). Between 2000 and 2003, annual rates of invasive cancer declined by 5% (P(trend) = .003). Between 2001 and 2003, annual rates of ER-positive invasive breast cancer declined by 13% (P(trend) = .002). Rates of DCIS were stable during the study period. Our finding of a statistically significant decline in the rate of ER-positive invasive breast cancer in a screening mammography population after the start of a concomitant substantial decline in postmenopausal hormone therapy use suggests that a decline in screening mammography rates is unlikely to account for the recent decline in US breast cancer incidence.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for breast cancer with breast self-examination. A critical review.

Abstract: We reviewed evidence regarding breast self-examination (BSE) and screening for breast cancer. To our knowledge, no controlled prospective trial links BSE to lives saved from breast cancer. Compared with clinical breast examination and mammography, the estimated sensitivity of BSE is low (20% to 30%) and is lower among older women. The potential sensitivity of BSE should be higher because women can detect small lumps (0.3 cm) in silicone models. Instruction increases BSE frequency over the short term. Sensitivity also increases, but specificity decreases. The psychological effects of teaching and performing BSE are not yet clear. The cost of screening by BSE is unknown but depends on the accuracy of the test as well as the training method used. Breast self-examination has potential as a screening test for breast cancer, but many questions require scientific examination before this procedure can be advocated as a screening test for breast cancer. ( JAMA 1987;257:2196-2203)

A Prospective Study of Breast Cancer Risk Using Routine Mammographic Breast Density Measurements

Abstract: Mammographic breast density is a major risk factor for breast cancer but estimates of the relative risk associated with differing density patterns have varied widely. It is also unclear how menopausal status influences this association and to what extent the effects of density are due to its correlation with other risk factors. Most recent investigations of breast density have been case-control studies, which provide indirect estimates of relative risk. We have prospectively followed 61,844 women for an average of 3.1 years to directly estimate risk among women in the four mammographic breast density categories defined by the American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). The study was population-based and used density assessments routinely made by community radiologists. Cox regression was used to obtain age-adjusted relative risk estimates and to control for other risk factors. Risk increased with density and the risk associated with extremely dense breasts, relative to entirely fatty breasts, was 4.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.7-12.6) for premenopausal women and 3.9 (95% confidence interval, 2.6-5.8) for postmenopausal women. Estimates for pre- and postmenopausal women did not differ significantly. Although breast density was significantly related to body mass index, age at first childbirth, and postmenopausal hormone use (P < 0.001), adjustment for these variables only slightly altered the relative risk estimates. Our results correspond well to those from case-control studies using more quantitative measures of mammographic breast density and suggest that routine Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System density measurements may be useful in models for assessing breast cancer risk in individual women.

Effect of mammographic screening from age 40 years on breast cancer mortality in the UK Age trial at 17 years' follow-up: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract: Summary Background Age-specific effects of mammographic screening, and the timing of such effects, are a matter of debate. The results of the UK Age trial, which compared the effect of invitation to annual mammographic screening from age 40 years with commencement of screening at age 50 years on breast cancer mortality, have been reported at 10 years of follow-up and showed no significant difference in mortality between the trial groups. Here, we report the results of the UK Age trial after 17 years of follow-up. Methods Women aged 39–41 from 23 UK NHS Breast Screening Programme units years were randomly assigned by individual randomisation (1:2) to either an intervention group offered annual screening by mammography up to and including the calendar year of their 48th birthday or to a control group receiving usual medical care (invited for screening at age 50 years and every 3 years thereafter). Both groups were stratified by general practice. We compared breast cancer incidence and mortality by time since randomisation. Analyses included all women randomly assigned who could be traced with the National Health Service Central Register and who had not died or emigrated before entry. The primary outcome measures were mortality from breast cancer (defined as deaths with breast cancer coded as the underlying cause of death) and breast cancer incidence, including in-situ, invasive, and total incidence. Because there is an interest in the timing of the mortality effect, we analysed the results in different follow-up periods. This trial is registered, number ISRCTN24647151. Findings Between Oct 14, 1990, and Sept 25, 1997, 160 921 participants were randomly assigned; 53 883 women in the intervention group and 106 953 assigned to usual medical care were included in this analysis. After a median follow-up of 17 years (IQR 16·8–18·8), the rate ratio (RR) for breast cancer mortality was 0·88 (95% CI 0·74–1·04) from tumours diagnosed during the intervention phase. A significant reduction in breast cancer mortality was noted in the intervention group compared with the control group in the first 10 years after diagnosis (RR 0·75, 0·58–0·97) but not thereafter (RR 1·02, 0·80–1·30) from tumours diagnosed during the intervention phase. The overall breast cancer incidence during 17 year follow-up was similar between the intervention group and the control group (RR 0·98, 0·93–1·04). Interpretation Our results support an early reduction in mortality from breast cancer with annual mammography screening in women aged 40–49 years. Further data are needed to fully understand long-term effects. Cumulative incidence figures suggest at worst a small amount of overdiagnosis. Funding National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme and the American Cancer Society. Past funding was received from the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, the UK Department of Health, and the US National Cancer Institute.

Population-Attributable Risk Proportion of Clinical Risk Factors for Breast Cancer.

Abstract: Importance Many established breast cancer risk factors are used in clinical risk prediction models, although the proportion of breast cancers explained by these factors is unknown. Objective To determine the population-attributable risk proportion (PARP) for breast cancer associated with clinical breast cancer risk factors among premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Design, Setting, and Participants Case-control study with 1:10 matching on age, year of risk factor assessment, and Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) registry. Risk factor data were collected prospectively from January 1, 1996, through October 31, 2012, from BCSC community-based breast imaging facilities. A total of 18 437 women with invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ were enrolled as cases and matched to 184 309 women without breast cancer, with a total of 58 146 premenopausal and 144 600 postmenopausal women enrolled in the study. Exposures Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) breast density (heterogeneously or extremely dense vs scattered fibroglandular densities), first-degree family history of breast cancer, body mass index (>25 vs 18.5-25), history of benign breast biopsy, and nulliparity or age at first birth (≥30 years vs Main Outcomes and Measures Population-attributable risk proportion of breast cancer. Results Of the 18 437 women with breast cancer, the mean (SD) age was 46.3 (3.7) years among premenopausal women and 61.7 (7.2) years among the postmenopausal women. Overall, 4747 (89.8%) premenopausal and 12 502 (95.1%) postmenopausal women with breast cancer had at least 1 breast cancer risk factor. The combined PARP of all risk factors was 44.3% (95% CI, 40.8%-47.8%) among premenopausal women and 43.2% (95% CI, 41.0%-45.5%) among postmenopausal women. High breast density was one of the most prevalent risk factors for both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and had the largest effect on the PARP; 28.9% (95% CI, 25.3%-32.5%) of premenopausal and 14.4% (95% CI, 12.6%-16.0%) of postmenopausal breast cancers could potentially be averted if all women with heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts shifted to scattered fibroglandular breast density. Among postmenopausal women, 16.4% (95% CI, 14.4%-18.4%) of breast cancers could potentially be averted if all overweight and obese women attained a body mass index of less than 25. Conclusions and Relevance Most women with breast cancer have at least 1 breast cancer risk factor routinely documented at the time of mammography, and more than 40% of premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancers are explained by these factors. These easily assessed risk factors should be incorporated into risk prediction models to stratify breast cancer risk and promote risk-based screening and targeted prevention efforts.