User:Mr. Ibrahem/Mammography

Mammography is a low-dose X-ray to examine the breast for breast cancer. It can be carried out in those who have symptoms for diagnosis, or in those without, as screening. The goal is early detection of cancer, with the hope that early treatment will improve outcomes. Concerning findings include lumps and areas of calcium. When concerns occur further medical imaging or biopsy is carried out.

For the average woman, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in 2016 recommended mammography every two years between the ages of 50 and 74. The American College of Radiology recommend yearly screening starting at age 40 while the American Cancer Society recommends started at age 45 and moving to every two years at 55. The Canadian Task Force recommend mammography every 2 to 3 years between ages 50 and 74 while the European Commission recommends this between ages 50 and 69.

Risks include overdiagnosis, anxiety, unnecessary surgery, and a small increase in radiation induced breast cancer. The test may also be falsely negative, resulting in missed cancer. Cochrane in 2013 did not find an effect of screening on either total cancer mortality or breast cancer mortality in well randomized trials. In 2012 they question the need for universal screening. In the United States at least 39 million are done a year. The cost per exam is about 100 USD in the United States.