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Adverse effects of screening mammography
1Department of Radiology, The Mount Sinai Hospital, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. stephen.feig@msnyuhealth.org
Radiologic Clinics of North America
|September 1, 2004
Summary
Screening mammography offers life-saving benefits through early breast cancer detection, outweighing risks like discomfort and false positives. Most women value early detection despite potential anxiety from follow-up procedures.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Screening mammography is a key tool for early breast cancer detection.
- Understanding the risks and benefits is crucial for informed patient decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the adverse consequences of screening mammography.
- To weigh these risks against the benefits of early cancer detection.
Main Methods:
- Review of adverse events associated with screening mammography.
- Analysis of patient experiences and psychological impact.
Main Results:
- Key risks include breast compression discomfort, recall for further imaging, and false positive biopsies.
- Radiation exposure risk from mammography is negligible.
- Anxiety related to screening and follow-up does not diminish women's perceived value of early detection.
Conclusions:
- The life-saving benefits of early detection via screening mammography significantly outweigh the associated risks.
- Despite minor adverse events and temporary anxiety, women largely recognize and value the importance of mammography for early diagnosis.