The study’s findings were presented November 29, 2011, at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), held in Chicago (IL, USA). The breast cancer screening guidelines issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force in November 2009 triggered a debate among physicians, patient advocacy groups, and the media. Much of the controversy focused on the recommendation against routine annual mammography screening for women in their 40s.

“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 Stamatia V. Destounis, MD, radiologist and managing partner of Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, LLC (Rochester, NY, USA).

For the study, Dr. Destounis and colleagues performed a retrospective review to identify the number and type of cancers diagnosed among women between the ages of 40 and 49--with and without a family history of breast cancer--who underwent screening mammography at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care from 2000 to 2010. The researchers then compared the number of cancers, incidence of invasive disease and lymph node metastases between the two groups.

Of the 1,071 patients in the 40-49 age group with breast cancer, 373 were diagnosed as a result of screening. Of that 373, 39% had a family history of breast cancer, and 61% had no family history of breast cancer. In the family history group, 63.2% of the patients had invasive disease, and 36.8% had noninvasive disease. In the no family history group, 64% of the patients had invasive disease, and 36% had noninvasive disease. The respective lymph node metastatic rates were 31% and 29%.

“In the 40-49 age group, we found a significant rate of breast cancer and similar rates of invasive disease in women with and without family history,” Dr. Destounis said. “Additionally, we found the lymph node metastatic rate was similar.”

According to Dr. Destounis, these findings highlight the importance of early detection and annual screening mammography for women between the ages of 40 and 49 whether or not they have a family history of breast cancer.

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