Daniel B. Kopans MD, Presenter: Research Grant, General Electric Company Royalties, Cook Group Incorporated Consultant, Siemens AG

1) The data that suppport mammography screening beginning at the age of 40. 2) The history of efforts to reduce access to screening mammography and the scientific erros in those efforts. 3) The details of the poor quality mammogrpahy and the allocation errors that compromised the Canadian National Breast Screening Study1. 4) Errors in analysis from a major review that incorrectly suggested that screening leads to massive overdiagnosis of breast cancer.

Mammography screening is one of the major medical advances of the last half century.  Prior to the onset of screening in the U.S., the death rate from breast cancer had been unchanged since 1940.  Screeening began in the mid 1980's and soon after, in 1990, the death rate began to fall.  Each year there are now more than 30% fewer women who die from breast cancer each year than would have had screening not been available.  Therapy has improved, but therapy saves lives when cancers are treated earleir.  Nevertheless, controversy continues to be raised about the efficac of screening.  For more than 30 years, specious arguments have been made in an effort to limit access to screening.  These will be described, and shown to be based on faulty methodology. 

Kopans, D, Current Controversies.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14000803.html