ACR/SBI Comment on Draft USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) submitted joint comments in response to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) draft recommendations for breast cancer screening, acknowledging that the proposed move toward screening average risk women beginning at age 40 is a step in the right direction, while objecting to other aspects of the Task Force’s recommendations.

The highly detailed and scientifically robust comments raise serious concerns with the proposed recommendation for biennial rather than annual screening, given the Task Force’s acknowledgement that annual mammography screening for women 40 and older saves the most lives and results in the greatest number of life years. ACR and SBI also expressed deep disappointment that the proposed USPSTF recommendation continues to perpetuate confusion surrounding when to cease mammographic screening by proposing a recommendation for screening mammography in women 75 and older. The associations’ position is that screening mammography should continue as long as a woman is in good health with reasonable life expectancy.

The comments provide an expository review of available science and rebut the Task Force’s approach and conclusions on multiple issues while respectfully urging that it reconsider the evidence as detailed in the ACR/SBI comments and adopt final recommendations assigning a B grade for annual mammographic screening for all women ages 40 and older who are at average risk for breast cancer.

USPSTF will review submitted comments prior to issuing final recommendations at a later date. For more information, contact Gloria Romanelli, ACR Senior Director, Legislative and Regulatory Relations, Legal Counsel Quality and Safety.