HealthDay (4/14, Thompson) reports that a study “suggests that all women turning 40 should get a breast cancer risk assessment, since half of them may have risks that are high enough to warrant annual mammograms right away.” This “review of female patients between the ages of 40 and 44 found that 50 percent had an above-average risk for breast cancer, and therefore would be eligible to begin screening mammography at age 40, said lead researcher Dr. Jennifer Plichta.” The research “also found a significant percentage of women would qualify for other breast screening methods, including breast MRI and genetic testing, Plichta said.” The study was presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons annual meeting. Aunt Minnie (4/15, Yee) also covers the story. 

HealthImaging (4/13, Livernois) reports that “a study of 1.5 million women concluded that universal biennial mammography is more effective for detecting breast cancer early compared with risk-based screening or annual clinical breast exam.” The findings were published in JAMA Oncology. 

Aunt Minnie (4/8, Yee) reports that in a presentation at the Society of Breast Imaging show in Austin, TX, Steven Poplack, MD, from Washington University School of Medicine and the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology discussed “key considerations to take into account” when incorporating digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) into a radiology practice. For example, “facilities seeking to implement breast tomosynthesis need to carefully consider which vendor to work with, develop a strategy for integrating the technology into their department’s workflow, and determine how to get the word out to patients and referring physicians that DBT is available.” 

Medscape (4/7) reports that the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) released updated guidelines for breast cancer adding that “hypofractionation, a shorter course of radiation delivered for 3 weeks instead of 5 weeks, is now preferred over whole-breast radiation.” 

HealthImaging (4/6, Hocter) reports that research indicated that “follow-up visits from trained community health workers known as ‘promotoras’ have been shown to improve breast cancer screening rates among Latino women.” Investigators found that “promotora visits improved the rate of screening mammography by more than 8 percent when compared to normal care strategies.” The findings were published in Cancer Epidemiology.