The benefit of population screening for breast cancer with mammography

In the autumn of 2001, the Cochrane Library and The Lancet published the results of a systematic review of randomised trials for early detection of breast cancer by mammography. The reviewers claimed that there was no reliable evidence to support the survival benefit of mammography screening. This has led to many discussions — both in scientific literature and in the lay press. The Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport requested from the President of the Health Council a rapid answer to the question of whether the outcome of the study, a so-called Cochrane review, nullifies the scientific basis of the current screening programme.

Committee

• Professor JA Knottnerus, President of the Health Council; The Hague, Chair
• Professor GMM Bartelink, Radiotherapist; Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, professor of radiotherapy, University Medical Centre, Amsterdam
• Professor Y van der Graaf, Clinical epidemiologist; University Medical Centre, Utrecht
• Professor JGM Klijn, Oncologist; Erasmus University Medical Centre and Daniël den Hoed Clinic, Rotterdam
• Professor FE van Leeuwen, Epidemiologist; Dutch Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, professor of cancer epidemiology, Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam
• Dr RJPM Scholten, Clinical epidemiologist;, Dutch Cochrane Centre, University Medical Centre Amsterdam
• Dr WA van Veen, Health Council, The Hague, secretary

The committee also met and consulted with the following experts:

• Dr RWM Giard, Pathologist and clinical epidemiologist; MRCZ, Clara site, Rotterdam
• Professor R Holland, Pathologist; National Reference Centre for Breast cancer Screening, St Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen
• Dr HJ de Koning, Clinical epidemiologist; National Evaluation Team for Breast cancer Screening, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• Professor ALM Verbeek, Clinical epidemiologist; St Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen