Preventive Services Task Force Statement

Society of Breast Imaging Responds to US Preventive Services Task Force Statement

The Annals of Internal Medicine published articles (links on resources page) including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for radical changes in the clinical guidelines for screening mammography. These include:

screening mammography should not be done routinely for all women age 40-49 years.

Women aged 50-74 years should have mammography every two years.

There is not enough evidence to recommend for or against screening mammography after age 74 years.

The Society of Breast Imaging and the American College of Radiology, the American Cancer Society, and many other respected professional organizations, will voice strong opposition to the changes proposed in the articles. It is the opinion of your SBI leadership that adopting these guidelines would result in a major step backward in women's healthcare and increased deaths from breast cancer. In an effort to assist you with press inquiries and questions from patients, referring physicians, and colleagues, the Society of Breast Imaging has assembled resources for your use.