Guideline Video

Guideline Resources

  • Screening for Breast Cancer in Asymptomatic, Average-Risk Adult Females
  • American College of Physicians
  • April 17, 2026
  • Summary
  • Full-text

Video Transcription

Just published April 17th, 2026, the American College of Physicians’s newest guidance statement on Screening for Breast Cancer in Asymptomatic, Average-Risk Adult Females.

The purpose of this updated guidance statement is to guide internal medicine physicians and other clinicians on screening for breast cancer in asymptomatic, average-risk adult females.

There are 5 statements, let’s get started. 

  • In asymptomatic, average-risk females aged 40 to 49 years, clinicians should discuss the female’s risk of breast cancer, values and preferences, and uncertainty around benefits and harms of screening for breast cancer. Following shared decision making, if a female in this population prefers to get screened for breast cancer, clinicians should then initiate screening mammography every 2 years.
  • In asymptomatic, average-risk females aged 50 to 74 years, clinicians should use biennial mammography for screening for breast cancer.
  • In asymptomatic, average-risk females aged 75 years or older or asymptomatic, average-risk females with a limited life expectancy, clinicians should discuss discontinuation of breast cancer screening based on shared decision making that includes the female’s risk of breast cancer, values and preferences, and uncertainty around benefits and harms of screening for breast cancer.
  • In asymptomatic, average-risk adult females with breast density of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category C or D, clinicians should consider using supplemental digital breast tomosynthesis based on benefits, harms, additional radiation exposure, availability, values and preferences, and cost.
  • In asymptomatic, average-risk adult females with breast density of BI-RADS category C or D, clinicians should not use supplemental magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound.

And there you have it. Make sure to check out the full guidance statement from the American College of Physicians and other related clinical decision support tools at guidelinecentral.com.

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