According to the results of a major new clinical trial, adding a screening ultrasound examination to routine mammography reveals more breast cancers than mammography alone. This study also showed that supplemental ultrasound may be beneficial in women at high risk of breast cancer who could not, or would not, otherwise undergo a magnetic resonance imaging scan. The trial, however, also found that adding an ultrasound exam increases the rate of false positive findings and unnecessary biopsies.

The American Society of Breast Disease’s Consensus Committee has corroborated that screening MRI is appropriate as an additional test to mammography, clinical breast examination, and ultrasonography for the detection of breast cancer in women who are at high risk. The recommendation was based on the most current data available.

Photo by Ctd 2005

A survey conducted on over 860,000 women aged 70-75 years indicated that breast cancer screening is effective and reduces deaths from the disease in women aged up to 75 years old. In another study carried over about 100,000 women between the age group of 50 and 62 years indicated that the best interval for screening was every three years, which contradicts arguments that women should have mammograms more frequently.