HAILED as an historic agreement among health-field organizations, the new mammographic screening guidelines established by the National Medical Roundtable nonetheless have received less than universal endorsement.
Still, organizations supporting the recommendations hope that uniformity will eliminate confusion caused by previously differing individual organizational guidelines. "A uniform approach is going to be essential in encouraging physicians to recommend and participate in screening programs," says Gerald D. Dodd, MD, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. (Please see following article.)
Carcinoma of the breast is the most prevalent form of cancer among women in the United States, accounting for more than 28% of all malignant neoplasms. This year alone, the American Cancer Society has projected that more than 142 000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and 43 000 women will die of the disease.
Despite annual increases in incidence of breast cancer in this country, the overall