Current guidelines conflict on whether women in their 40s need a mammogram annually or once every two years A new study finds significantly fewer mammograms resulted in a finding of late-stage cancer if the screen was conducted annually False-positive results are one hazard of getting mammograms more frequently, the researchers note WEDNESDAY, Aug. 28, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A new study supports the notion that women age 40 and older get a mammogram each year rather than every two years, to help catch early. The rate at which mammograms revealed a tumor in its later stages was significantly lower among women who got an annual mammogram versus those who spaced the scans out over two or more years, reported a team at the University of Pittsburgh.
“Annual mammograms are crucial for early detection of breast cancer, which increases the likelihood of survival, decreases harms to patients because treatment may not need to be as intense, makes recovery easier and can lower the cost of care," said study lead author , a professor of radiology at Pitt. The new findings come in the context of dueling guidelines around the recommended frequency of mammograms, which can be confusing for many women in their 40s. Guidelines from the advise that women over 40 get a mammogram once every year, whereas guidelines from the influential recommends mammograms once every two years, beginning at age 40.
In the new study, Zuley's group drew on a large institutional database that included more than.