Women’s Imaging: According to a new report, the mammography screening guidelines released by the U.S. 
Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) are not accurate. Those guidelines suggest that women, not at risk of having breast cancer, are to undergo mammography scans starting at the age of 50 every two years.
The report was prepared by Dr. Daniel B. Kopans, a professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School and senior radiologist in the breast imaging division at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The report was published in July issue of Radiology. Dr. Kopans stated "We know from the scientific studies that screening saves a lot of lives, and it saves lives among women in their 40s," USPSTF mentioned that its mammography screening guidelines were based on scientific researches. However, since announcing those guidelines, physicians are debating their accuracy and effectiveness in protection against breast cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States.
On the other hand, the American Cancer Society still recommends annual mammography scans for women at the age of 40. Dr. Kopans wrote in his report that the USPSTF guidelines were suggested according to an incorrect method of reviewing breast cancer studies. He said that the data used by USPSTF mentioned that the risk of breast cancer for women in their 40s was low, which is not correct. Dr. Kopans said "Breast cancer doesn't monitor your age. There is nothing that changes abruptly at age 50."
Dr. Kopans also added several concerns regarding those guidelines, including the fact that guidelines were based on statistics saying that mammography screening were reducing mortalities by 15% for women at the age of 40s, while several other studies showed that they were reducing mortalities by 44%. Moreover, the guidelines were suggested to reduce the rate of false positive mammography results, and the following worries, between women. Dr. Kopans said that reducing worries were far less important than sparing women the danger of breast cancer. He said "They made the subjective decision that women in their 40s couldn't tolerate the anxiety of being called back because of a questionable screening study, even though when you ask women who've been through it, most are pleased there was nothing wrong, and studies show they will come back for their next screening even more religiously," he added "The task force took the decision away from women. It's incredibly paternalistic."