the primary benefit for reduced mammograms is fewer "false-positive" results. that is the mammogram suggests a worrisome finding when there really isn't one. there are more frequent false positives among younger women (age less than 50). younger women have both more dense breast tissue (making mammograms more difficult to interpret) and less risk overall for breast cancer (risk rises with age). false positives often lead to unneeded biopsies. it should also be noted that 10% to 15% of breast cancers in this younger group are missed by mammograms.
how do the new mammogram screening guidelines benefit patients?