1. ¹Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit, Institute of Cancer Research, Brookes Lawley Building, 15 Cotswold Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG, UK
2. ²National Breast Screening Training Centre, City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
3. ³Jarvis Breast Screening, Diagnostic and National Training Centre, Stoughton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1LJ, UK

Correspondence: Dr SM Moss, E-mail: sue.moss@icr.ac.uk

⁴Trial Management Group: Professor H Cuckle (Chair), Professor TJ Anderson, Dr M Cohen, Dr A Evans, Ms J Hayes, Dr E Kutt, Dr SM Moss, Dr B Muir, Dr C Record, Dr BA Thomas, Ms I Thomas (Trial Co-ordinator)

Received 24 September 2004; Revised 13 December 2004; Accepted 15 December 2004; Published online 22 February 2005.

Abstract

Debate continues over the effectiveness of screening by mammography in women below age 50. We report here on results of screening in the first 10 years of a randomised trial to study the effect on breast cancer mortality of invitation to annual mammography from age 40 to 41 compared to first invitation to the 3-yearly UK national programme at age 50–52. The trial is taking place in 23 NHS breast screening centres. Between 1991 and 1997, 160 921 women were randomised in the ratio 1 : 2 to intervention and control arms. Screening is by two views at first screen and single view subsequently; data on screening up to and including round five are now complete. Uptake of invitation to screening is between 68 and 70% at all but the latest screening rounds. Rates of referral for assessment are 4.6% at first screen and 3.4% at subsequent screens. Invasive cancer detection rates are 0.09% at first screen, and similar at rescreens until the sixth and later screens. There is little evidence of regular mammography in the trial control arm. The setting of this trial within the NHS breast screening programme should ensure applicability of results to a national programme.