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Screening
Mammography in Elderly Patients beneficial
Newswise — Although
guidelines keep changing regarding screening
mammography in elderly patients, those older
than 70 years old continue to benefit from
this exam, showing that with frequent
mammograms breast cancers can be found
sooner, according to a recent study
conducted by researchers at Jacobi Medical
Center and Albert Einstein College of
Medicine, in Bronx, NY.
“Our initial interest
was sparked by the changing mammographic
guidelines in the elderly age group and the
differences in the guidelines between
organizations including the American Cancer
Society and American College of Radiology,”
said Jason Salsamendi, MD, lead author of
the study.
“We also noticed that
we were performing a significant number of
screening mammograms in elderly patients at
our institution and became curious about the
incidence of occult breast cancer in this
age group,” he said.
The study consisted of
the review of 24 cases of breast cancer in
22 elderly patients age 70-89. The
researchers evaluated the mammograms for
masses and calcifications and correlated the
results to surgically proven histology,
lymph node involvement and initial surgical
management.
According to the study,
19 of the 24 cases of breast malignancy were
initially identified on screening
mammography.
The study showed that
mammographic findings in these 19 cases
included 12 masses, 4 suspicious
calcifications and 3 masses with
calcifications. Of these, surgical
management was available in 18 cases with 15
being treated by lumpectomy and 3 being
treated with mastectomy.
The study also showed
that the average time interval from most
recent prior mammogram to diagnosis was 2.6
years.
“During our study, we
found that five patients never had a prior
mammogram. Their breast cancer was detected
on a baseline study. These five patients
included three cases of infiltrating ductal
carcinoma,” said Dr. Salsamendi.
“Perhaps with more
frequent mammographic screening, more breast
cancers can be found earlier, at a
noninvasive stage.
"This
would result in a less extensive surgical
procedure and improve prognosis. Our results
encourage clinicians to continue to order
screening mammography in elderly patients at
yearly intervals,” he said.
The full results of
this study will be presented as an
electronic exhibit Monday, April 14 through
Thursday April 17, 2008 during the American
Roentgen Ray Society’s annual meeting in
Washington, DC.
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