[Recommendations of a national Italian consensus conference on the opportunity of extending screening service by mammography to 40-49 and 70-74 years of age women].

The Italian Mammography Screening Network (GISMa) held a national consensus conference in Bologna, May 25-26 2006. The large panel of participants included national experts in fields related to breast cancer and screening issues. The final aim was the production of a consensus statement which might become a standard reference for Italy. The consensus document (http://www.gisma.it) states that full national coverage by organized screening for breast (age 50-69), cervical and colorectal cancer is a priority, before any extension of organized mammography screening to younger or older age groups may be considered. If adequate resources are available, extension of organized screening for breast cancer until age 74 is recommended, at least for regular attenders until age 69. Extension of organized screening to women aged 40-49 may be considered at some conditions: (a) that resources are available, (b) that a 1-year interval is adopted, (c) that proper information of the limitations of screening is given to participants and (d) that priority is given to age 45-49.