Breast cancer screening
Summary of the 2024 recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Who it applies to
Women and other people assigned female at birth aged 40 and older who are at average risk, including those with a family history of breast cancer or dense breasts. It does not apply to people with a known high-risk genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, prior chest radiation at a young age, or a previous breast cancer.
Recommendation
Biennial screening mammography (every 2 years) for women aged 40 to 74 (grade B). The 2024 update lowered the starting age from 50 to 40.
Older adults and dense breasts
The evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 and older (I statement). The evidence is also insufficient to recommend for or against supplemental screening with breast ultrasound or MRI for women with dense breasts and a negative mammogram (I statement).
Notes
Digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography) and digital mammography are both acceptable screening tests.