Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Factors Associated with Routine Recommendation of Mammography for Women Aged 40 to 49: Provider Characteristics and Screening Influences”

Authors: Albert S. Braverman, MD

Abstract

The data presented by Martinez and colleagues1 in this issue of the Southern Medical Journal suggest that many or most primary care physicians continue to recommend screening mammography for women in their 40s at normal risk for cancer, despite the lack of evidence for its efficacy.

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References

1. Martinez KA, Deshpande A, Ruff AL, et al. Factors associated with routine recommendation of mammography for women aged 40 to 49: provider characteristics and screening influences. South Med J 2017;110:129-135.
 
2. Nelson HD, Tyne K, Naik A, et al. Screening for breast cancer: an update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Annals of Internal Medicine 2009;151:727-737, W237-W242.
 
3. Hrung J, Sonnad S, Schwartz J, et al. Accuracy of MR imaging in the work-up of suspicious breast lesions: a diagnostic meta-analysis. Acad Radiol 1999;6:387-397.
 
4. Komen SG. Woman should have access to, coverage for, mammography. http://www.ww5.komen.org. Accessed October 20, 2015.
 
5. Breast Cancer Screening for Women Ages 40-49. NIH Consensus Statement Online 1997;15:1-35.
 
6. Oeffinger KC, Fontham ET, Etzioni R, et al. Breast cancer screening for women at average risk: 2015 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. JAMA 2015;314:1599-1614.
 
7. Welch HG, Black WC. Overdiagnosis in cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 2010;102:605-613.
 
8. Nomenclature revision for encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a paradigm shift to reduce overtreatment of indolent tumors. JAMA Oncol 2016;2:1023-1029.