Results of needle localized breast biopsy in women under age 50

Background The use of screening mammography in women aged 40 to 50 years is controversial because of a relative lack of data demonstrating survival benefit for this segment of the population. Patients and methods The charts of 809 consecutive women who underwent needle localized breast biopsy over a 61/2-year period were reviewed to determine the effect of age on the biopsy results. Patient ages ranged from 27 to 91 years (mean 56). Results Two hundred nineteen (27%) of the 809 needle localized breast biopsies were malignant, with a mean tumor diameter of 1.46 cm. This procedure identified malignancy in 3 (5%) of 60 patients under age 40, and in 32 (15%) of 207 patients aged 40 to 49 years. Malignancy was significantly more likely in patients 50 years of age or older and was found in 184 (34%) of the 542 (P<0.001). Overall, 33% of all patients undergoing the procedure were under age 50. Conclusions Without screening mammography, the diagnosis of breast cancer would have been delayed in 32 women aged 40 to 50, bd15% of the total diagnosed with nonpalpable breast cancer in this study. We recommend the use of screening mammography in this age group.