BREAST IMAGING AND BREAST-CANCER PREVENTION

Earlier detection of breast cancer through periodic screening is the only currently available intervention likely to reduce breast cancer-related mortality in the near term; prevention would be preferable. The alteration of proliferative changes and the assessment of intermediate endpoints may establish some interventions as more likely than others to interrupt the progression to lethal cancer. However, since not all breast cancers are fatal, the endpoint that will ultimately be accepted as proof of prevention success will be a reduction in breast cancer mortality. Methods of detection and monitoring must be carefully tailored so that the influences of the detection techniques do not alter the prevention results. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.