The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued an update of its 2002 recommendation statement on breast cancer screening in the general population. These new breast cancer screening guidelines were published in November 17, 2009 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

The USPSTF examined evidence on the efficacy of 5 breast cancer screening methods in reducing breast cancer death – film mammography, clinical breast examination, breast self-examination, digital mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Based on their examination, the USPSTF recommends against routine breast cancer screening with mammography in women aged 40 to 40 years. Screening mammography every two years is recommended for women between age 50 and 74. The USPSTF indicated that there was insufficient evidence to determine the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening in women aged 75 years and older.