Mammography linked to smaller tumors

Article

Women aged 40 years and older with breast cancer who have at least yearly mammograms before diagnosis are more likely to have smaller tumors and a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) than those who receive less frequent or no mammograms. That means the former group are better candidates for breast-conserving treatments, according to a recent study from the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pa.

The study involved almost 1,600 women. Of those who had no previous mammography, 15% were diagnosed with DCIS, compared to 21% of the women who had mammograms less often than once a year and 26% of those who underwent yearly mammography.

While 32% of the women with no previous mammography had T1 tumors, 50% of those who received fewer than one mammogram per year and 56% of those who received yearly mammography did so. In fact, tumor size was less than 1 cm in only 8% of the first group versus 20% to 23% of the second and third groups.

As a result, breast conservation became an option for 61% of those who underwent mammography with some regularity versus 41% of the women who had never received a mammogram. Physicians recommended mastectomy to 41% of the women who never underwent the radiologic procedure and to 28% of those who did.

Freedman GM, Anderson PR, Goldstein LJ, et al. Routine mammography is associated with earlier stage disease and greater eligibility for breast conservation in breast carcinoma patients age 40 years and older. Cancer. 2003;98:918-925.

Recent Videos
How advancements in IVF are impacting embryologist workload and patient care | Image Credit: fertility.coopersurgical.com/our_experts
Study finds no causal link between maternal health in pregnancy and autism risk | Image Credit: med.nyu.edu/faculty.
Mirvie's RNA platform revolutionizes detection of fetal growth restriction | Image Credit: wexnermedical.osu.edu
How early genetic testing empowers parents and improves outcomes | Image Credit: tuftsmedicine.org
Dallas Reed highlights trends and barriers in prenatal genetic testing | Image Credit: tuftsmedicine.org
How maternal fetal medicine specialists improve outcomes for high-risk pregnancies | Image Credit: profiles.mountsinai.org
How the cobas liat assay panels improve STI detection | Image Credit: labqualityconfab.
Screening-to-diagnosis interval vital for gestational diabetes outcomes | Image Credit: ultracon2024.eventscribe.net
Henri M. Rosenberg, MD
Medical experts personalize contraceptive options for complex cases | Image Credit: findcare.ahn.org
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.