The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) has released a position statement that includes four main points for women and their medical providers to consider regarding screening mammogram guidelines and overall assessment for breast health. Below are the four points drawn up by the ASBrS:

  1. Women over the age of 25 should undergo an formal risk assessment for breast cancer.
  2. Women with an average risk of breast cancer should initiate yearly screening mammography at age 40.
  3. Women with a higher-than-average risk of breast cancer should undergo yearly screening mammography and be offered yearly supplemental imaging; this screening should be initiated at a risk-based age.
  4. Screening mammography should cease when life expectancy is less than 10 years.

While the statement is fairly long and highly clinical, the conclusions were:

"The ASBrS recommends that women age 25 and older undergo formal risk assessment for
breast cancer including evaluation of indications for genetic testing and personal history of
radiation, adding calculated lifetime risk using a validated model such a Tyrer-Cuzick at age
30 and beyond. The ASBrS recommends that women who have an average risk undergo
yearly screening mammography beginning at age 40, and stop screening mammography
when the woman has a life expectancy of less than 10 years. The ASBrS recommends that
women with a higher risk for breast cancer undergo yearly screening mammography and
yearly supplemental imaging. At this time, MRI is the favored supplemental imaging
modality.

Furthermore, the ASBrS acknowledges the presence of breast cancer outcome disparities in
the US. African American women, for example, face a disproportionately high risk of breast
cancer mortality, which is at least partly explained by differences in stage distribution as well
as tumor biology. These screening recommendations for the overall diverse population of
adult women represent an opportunity to minimize breast cancer disparities through earlier
detection of disease in all women."

Other key points of their statement include 3D mammography being the preferred and recommended imaging technique in breast cancer screening for all women regardless of risk category; and that if supplemental imaging is recommended for women of higher risk, breast MRI is the recommended technology.

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Diagnostic Imaging Services converted to the Tyrer-Cuzick breast cancer risk assessment model in late May 2019. We have offered and then expanded 3D screening and diagnostic mammography to four centers in southeast Louisiana. Breast MRI has been a staple in our advanced imaging portfolio and is performed either in our open MRI or conventional MRI scanners.

Click here for an article that provides a review of the position summary.

Diagnostic Imaging Services provides a wide range of women's health, screening and diagnostic testing. Click here to learn more.

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ASBrS Mammogram Guidelines