United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations on breast cancer screening

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) was established in 1984 by the US Department of Health and Human Services to develop recommendations on clinical preventive services based on evidence from published clinical research. Guidelines issued in 1989 addressed 169 preventive services in 60 topic areas. This article reviews the USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screening, which call for annual clinical breast examinations after 40 years of age, mammography every 1 to 2 years beginning at 50 years of age, and early screening of women at increased risk for breast cancer. The USPSTF methodology for evaluating the quality of evidence and the scientific rationale for its recommendations are reviewed.