Screening mammography: interpretation of the data

The literature on screening mammography includes a plethora of conflicting articles. More recently, individuals and various medical organizations have recommended and established their own guidelines for screening mammography. A review of salient breast screening randomized clinical trials in women over and under the age of 50 years is provided and compared with the more recent results of the Canadian National Breast Screening Study. In women under the age of 50 years, screening mammography cannot be supported from the results of these trials. In women over the age of 50 years, screening mammography leads to a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality and should be strongly recommended.