The primary objectives of this guideline are: (i) to provide policy-makers, health-care managers, and health-care providers with clear, objective and independent guidance on the balance between benefits and harms of mammography screening in women of different age groups; and (ii) to disseminate the recommendations based on this guidance among policy-makers, health-care providers, health-care managers, women and the general public in order to promote informed decisions in this area.
The primary target audiences of the guideline are policy-makers, health-care managers and health-care providers. The secondary target audiences are adult women and the public, in general, who need to be informed in a clear and constructive way of the WHO position on this topic.
The population addressed by this guideline comprises women at average risk for breast cancer in different age groups (40–49 years, 50–69 years, and 70 years and above). The scope of the guideline does not include women with breast symptoms or a palpable mass, or women with an elevated risk for breast cancer due to factors other than age (such as genetic mutations, personal history of invasive breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ or history of breast radiation). The questions addressed are the following:
In women of different age groups (40–49 years, 50–69 years, and 70 years and above), what is the balance of benefits and harms in those offered mammography screening compared to those not offered screening?
What is the screening interval (annually versus biannually) that provides the best balance between benefits and harms for women at average risk of breast cancer in different age groups?
