Why Start Now? Retrospective Study Evaluating Baseline Screening Mammography in Patients Age 60 and Older

Extensive data exist regarding the importance of baseline mammography and screening recommendations in the age range of 40-50 years old, however, less is known about women who start screening at age 60. The purpose of this retrospective study is to assess the characteristics and outcomes of women aged 60 years and older presenting for baseline mammographic screening.

This is an IRB-approved single institution retrospective review of data from patients aged 60+ receiving baseline screening mammograms between 2010 and 2022 was obtained. Information regarding patient demographics, breast density, and BI-RADS assessment was acquired from Cerner EHR. Of patients with a BI-RADS 0 assessment, imaging, and chart review was performed. Family history, gynecologic history, prior breast biopsy or surgery, and hormone use was reviewed. For those with a category 4 or 5 assessment after diagnostic work-up, biopsy outcomes were reported. Cancer detection rate (CDR), recall rate (RR), positive predictive value 1 (PPV1), PPV2, and PPV3 were calculated.

Data was analyzed from 1409 women over age 60 who underwent breast cancer screening. The recall rate was 29.3% (413/1409). The CDR, PPV1, PPV2, and PPV3 were calculated as 15/1000, 5.2% (21/405), 29.2% (21/72), and 31.8% (21/66), respectively. After work-up, 224 diagnostic patients had a 1-year follow-up and none were diagnosed with breast cancer. One (1.4%, 1/71) of the BI-RADS 3 lesions was malignant at 2-year follow-up. Of the patients recalled from screening, 29.6% had a family history of breast cancer, and the majority of both recalled and nonrecalled patients had Category B breast density. There was no statistically significant difference in breast density or race of patients recalled vs not recalled. 93.2% of recalled cases were given BI-RADS descriptors, with mass and focal asymmetry being the most common lesions, and 22.1% of recalled cases included more than one lesion.

Initiating screening mammography for patients over 60 years old may result in higher recall rates, but also leads to a high CDR of potentially clinically relevant invasive cancers. After a diagnostic work-up, BI-RADS 3 assessments are within standard guidelines. This study provides guidance for radiologists reading baseline mammograms and clinicians making screening recommendations in patients over age 60.