CLINICAL EFFICACY OF MAMMOGRAPHIC SCREENING IN THE ELDERLY

PURPOSE: To compare mammographic screening results for women aged 65 y ears and older (elderly group) with those for women aged 50-64 years ( younger group). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mammography was performed in 32 ,140 women aged 50 years and older (10,914 elderly, 21,226 younger). P arameters studied included demographic data, screening interpretations , disposition of abnormal interpretations, results of biopsies, and ch aracteristics of breast cancers. RESULTS: The cancer detection rate is substantially higher in elderly women (9.2 per 1,000 women) than in y ounger women (5.7 per 1,000 women). The median size of cancers in elde rly women is 11 mm (vs 12 mm in younger women). Axillary nodal status is 93% node negative in elderly women (vs 88% node negative in younger women). Cancer stage is earlier in elderly women than it is in younge r women (84% stage 0 or I vs 75% stage 0 or I). CONCLUSION: Mammograph ic screening is at least as effective in detecting cancers for which t here is a favorable prognosis in women aged 65 years and older as it i s in women aged 50-64 years. because the efficacy of screening in youn ger-group women has already been proved, it may be inferred that scree ning also benefits elderly-group women.