Kenneth A. Kern, MD

December 31, 2006

Any discussion of theutility and reliabilityof mammography mustfocus on what is good forindividual patients-not onwhat the results of a Europeanpublic health researchproject have determined isgood for society as a whole.What is good for most patientsis annual screeningmammography beginningat age 40 years (and for patientsat very high risk forbreast cancer, mammogramsbeginning much earlier,and possibly performedmore frequentlythan once a year).1