ABSTRACT
Breast screening was introduced to the UK in 1989–1990 following publication of the Forrest Report. This had recommended breast screening based on data from a number of large randomised trials such as the Health Insurance Plan (HIP) trial of New York and the Swedish Two-County Trial. A Cochrane Review of screening in 2011 raised concerns about the methodological quality of many of these trials, suggesting that they were subject to bias, the benefits of screening were less than initially thought and the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment were greater. This review caused controversy and ultimately led to several countries commissioning formal reviews of the evidence base for screening. The Marmot Review was the UK review triggered by this controversy.
