The University of Pittsburgh and UPMC conducted research that demonstrates women diagnosed with breast cancer who received regular annual screening mammograms were less likely to have late-stage cancer and showed higher overall survival rates compared to those who received screening every other year or less often. Lead author Margarita Zuley, M.D., emphasized the significant benefits of annual screening, particularly for premenopausal women. Conflicting guidelines exist regarding the frequency of mammography screening, with some organizations recommending annual screening after age 40 and others suggesting biennial screening. The lack of a national breast cancer registry in the U.S. prompted the researchers to develop a large institutional database to analyze real-world outcomes for breast cancer patients.
The study involved a comparison of 8,145 breast cancer patients who had at least one mammogram on record prior to diagnosis. The screening intervals were categorized as annual, biennial, or intermittent based on the time between mammograms. The findings indicated that the percentage of late-stage cancers significantly increased with longer screening intervals, with the biennial and intermittent screening groups showing worse overall survival rates than the annual group. Zuley stressed the importance of annual mammograms for early detection, which can improve survival rates, reduce treatment intensity, facilitate easier recovery, and potentially lower healthcare costs. While acknowledging the potential harms associated with false positives leading to unnecessary biopsies and anxiety, the researchers are exploring screening tools with lower false positive rates to provide more accurate and cost-effective patient care.
The study authors, including Andriy Bandos, Ph.D., Durwin Logue, Rohit Bhargava, M.D., Priscilla McAuliffe, M.D., Ph.D., Adam Brufsky, M.D., Ph.D., Robert M. Nishikawa, Ph.D., and Stephen Duffy, Ph.D., collaborated on the research, which was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute. Zuley highlighted the importance of balancing the potential harms of additional screening with the risks of missing cancers and subsequent negative outcomes for patients. The researchers are committed to developing screening tools with lower false positive rates than mammography, as well as exploring cost-effective and accurate approaches to patient care.
Overall, the study underscores the benefits of annual mammography screening for women diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly in improving early detection, survival rates, and treatment outcomes. The findings support the recommendation for annual screening, as opposed to biennial or intermittent intervals, to reduce the likelihood of late-stage cancer diagnoses and increase overall survival. The researchers’ focus on real-world outcomes and the development of more effective screening tools reflects a commitment to enhancing patient care and optimizing breast cancer screening practices. By addressing the potential harms associated with false positives and emphasizing the importance of early detection, the study contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve breast cancer screening guidelines and practices for better patient outcomes.