Swedish study questions mammography screening programmes

Analysis of the outcome of mammography screening in Sweden over the past 10 years has shown no significant reduction in mortality from breast cancer.

The study analysed data from 17 county councils in Sweden that introduced mammography screening in the late 1980s. The results showed an overall reduction in breast cancer mortality of 0.8%when the number of observed deaths was compared with those expected during the period 1986 to 1996 (L kartidningen 1999;96:904). More than 600000 women aged 50 to 69 years were included in the study.

A member of the …