Benefit of mammography screening in women ages 40 to 49 Years. Current evidence from randomized controlled trials

Background. Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of screening mammography were conducted involving women ages 40 to 49 years at entry. Current data gathered for periods ranging from 7 to 18 years of follow‐up are available from these trials. Methods. Meta‐analyses were performed using a Mantel‐Haenszel estimator method to combine current follow‐up data from the eight RCTs of mammography that included women ages 40 to 49 years. Results. Combining all current data on women ages 40 to 49 years at entry into the trials yielded a 14% benefit from screening mammography, without statistical significance at the 95% confidence level. Combining all data on women ages 40 to 49 years at entry, excluding results from the Canadian National Breast Screening Study, yielded a 23% benefit to women invited for screening, with statistical significance at the 95% confidence level. Conclusions. These results suggest that screening mammography in women ages 40 to 49 years at entry can reduce mortality from breast cancer when combined with adequate follow‐up. Cancer 1995;75:1619‐26.