Risk versus benefit in mammography.

Controversy surrounds the use of mammography in asymptomatic women 35-49 years of age. There is agreement that routine mammography is useful beyond 50 years. By extrapolating data from relatively high radiation exposures, a radiation carcinogenic risk at diagnostic levels has been calculated by some workers. Benefit for asymptomatic women in the 35-49 year age group has been questioned. This paper presents evidence that significant numbers of breast cancers are found in this age period on the basis of x-ray examination alone. Data also indicate absorbed dose from modern-day mammography is half to one quarter of that previously assumed. Based on these data, mammography is recommended as a tool for diagnosis of nonpalpable carcinomas of the breast.