Understanding the Methods Used by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in Developing Recommendations

Back to the Case: Talking to Patients About Mammography

• "The precise age at which the benefits from screening mammography justify the potential harms is a subjective judgment and should take into account patient preferences."
• "Clinicians should inform women about the potential benefits (reduced chance of dying from breast cancer), potential harms (for example, false-positive results, unnecessary biopsies), and limitations of the test that apply to women their age."

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf09/breastcancer/brcanrs.htm

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