ACR Disputes Conclusions of Danish Study on Mammogram Efficacy
Contact: Cary Boshamer
(703) 716-7540
E-mail: caryb@acr.org
Reston, Va. – The American College of Radiology strongly disputes the results of a Danish study on the efficacy of mammograms in reducing cancer death risk that were published in the Oct. 20 issue of The Lancet ("Cochrane review on screening for breast cancer with mammography"). This article and the accompanying commentary by editor Richard Horton spotlight a study based on flawed data. In fact, the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group that reviewed the research did not agree with the authors' conclusions, although The Lancet inexplicably failed to include that important fact or comment on it when they published this disputed study.
"An exhaustive review of the literature on screening mammography coupled with questionable statistical analysis is worthless," says Carl D'Orsi, M.D., chair of the Committee on Breast Cancer of the ACR. "A consequential matter such as this needs precise reporting, not alarmist headlines."
As a result of articles such as this, and the subsequent media coverage, many women who are prime candidates for regular mammograms may choose to neglect this important lifesaving procedure. The fact that the results of this study were published during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month further exacerbates the issue.
The vast majority of health care professionals agree that women benefit from regular mammography screening. The benefits of mammography have not only been clearly shown in randomized, controlled trials, but have also been demonstrated in the general population.
Breast cancer continues to cast a dark shadow over America's female population. This year alone, more than 192,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States. More than 40,000 women are expected to die from breast cancer this year, making it the second leading cause of cancer death.
However, the death rate from breast cancer in the United States, which had remained virtually unchanged for more than 50 years, began a reversal around 1989 in direct correlation with an increase in the number of screening mammograms. This steady rate of decline has continued for the last 10 years, with the largest decrease occurring among younger women.
While better therapies have had a decided effect on these cases, early detection and treatment is a prime catalyst for this favorable trend. The American Cancer Society has stated that "the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence supports regular screening with mammography as the best strategy to detect breast cancer early and thus begin treatment early." Furthermore, a recently released study suggested that mammograms may even be more effective than previously thought, reducing breast cancer mortality by more than 60 percent.
Yet, too many women still are not including mammography screening as part of their health care routine. The problem is more severe among certain high-risk groups including minorities, older women, and women with low incomes. Unfortunately, articles such as the ones relating to the Cochrane Collaboration study do more harm than good in addressing this important health care issue.
The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of radiology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
# # #
