The Annals of Internal Medicine journal has published two studies to tell people what risks or benefits breast cancer-screening strategies can have. The pair of studies also throws light on biannual breast cancer screening recommendation by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Digital mammography has been rated safe by the studies. This specialized form of mammography is secure, but it may pose radiation-associated breast cancer risk for some women. A comprehensive modeling study featured in the journal also stated that screening mammography is an effective way to protect women from deaths from this form of cancer.

The studies have also discussed the importance of breast size and its density during cancer screening. Women with large breasts were found at increased risk of radiation-induced cancer during the research, said co-author Rebecca Hubbard from University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia. The risks were because extra mammographic views are required in their case to image their breasts completely, Hubbard added.

Women who have large breast receive over twice the radiation dose as women with small breast, study researchers said. By ensuring that larger detectors are used at mammography facilities to image large breasts, such risks can be eliminated, they added.

“Digital breast tomosynthesis or 3D mammography also has potential to decrease radiation-induced breast cancer because data suggest that fewer women receiving tomosynthesis are recalled for additional mammography compared to traditional 2D mammography. Fewer recalls means less exposure to radiation and decreased risk of radiation-induced cancer”, Hubbard explained.

The study has not considered breast implants’ exact role, but it found that implant-augmented breasts involve increased risks from increased screening views. According to the study researchers, more work in needed to find perfect way to screen dense breasts.