Status of mammography in breast cancer screening

Doubt no longer exists as to the efficacy of breast cancer detection by mammography. A significant body of evidence supports its value in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with this common malignancy. Physicians must become convinced of its usefulness and recommend the procedure to female patients as part of routine healthcare. Those responsible for reimbursement of healthcare costs should be apprised of its value. Many insurance plans do not reimburse for screening procedures in the absence of clinical symptoms, but with breast cancer, the symptomatic patient may have a greatly diminished possibility of cure. The next decade may hold further diagnostic or therapeutic innovations, and breast cancer may eventually be eradicated. At present, however, no diagnostic method is capable of providing an impact equal to that of screening mammography for those women who have the misfortune of contracting this particular disease. We should all try to maximize the benefits this current technology is capable of providing.