Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Two imaging organizations upped the ante in the debate over mammography screening guidelines this week, issuing their own recommendations that contradict the controversial guidelines put forth late last year by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Mammography screening should begin at age 40 and be performed annually for most women -- and should begin by age 30 for high-risk women -- according to the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI). In November, the USPSTF raised to 50 the age at which it believes regular screening should start, and the group also advised biennial rather than annual screening.
Whether the ACR and SBI recommendations will carry much weight is open to debate; backers of the USPSTF's position will probably dismiss them as the product of industry organizations trying to protect their turf. But the organizations do offer a detailed explanation of the clinical evidence in support of earlier and more frequent screening. To read more, click here.
In other news in the community, a new clinical study offers added support for the role of breast MRI in detecting cancer. Current guidelines call for breast MRI to be used in screening high-risk women, but this new study indicates that it may also have value in intermediate-risk women. Learn more by clicking here, or visit the Women's Imaging Digital Community at women.auntminnie.com.
Win an iPod Touch
Did you know that AuntMinnie.com is giving away prizes to our members in celebration of our 10-year anniversary? Members have already won prizes ranging from Starbucks and Amazon.com gift cards to Bose noise-canceling headphones.
What's more, later today (January 5) we'll be conducting a drawing for seven iPod Touch digital music players. The best part is that you don't need to do anything to be entered into the drawing -- we'll be selecting names from our existing database of radiology professionals who have been AuntMinnie members for at least four years. So if you get an e-mail from AuntMinnie.com later this week, be sure to reply to claim your prize!
We'll be giving away more great prizes in the weeks to come as we continue the celebration, with prizes getting bigger and better for those who have been members longer -- all the way up to a plasma TV for a lucky 10-year member! For information about the anniversary giveaway program, just click here.
