Study finds false positive on a mammogram may lower likelihood of future screening

A large study by the National Cancer Institute-funded Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium found that women who receive a false-positive result on a mammogram may be less likely to return for future screenings. Researcher Diana Miglioretti, Ph.D., of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center and a leader of the BCSC, said that’s cause for concern, as mammography screening is “the most important strategy for reducing death from breast cancer.”

False positives, which occur when an abnormality is found on a mammogram but later ruled out as cancer, can be stressful and costly, requiring additional tests like biopsies. The study analyzed 3.5 million mammograms and found that 77% of women with a true-negative result returned for future screenings, compared to 61% of women with a false-positive that needed a follow-up exam.

False positives are more common in certain groups, including younger women and those with dense breasts.

Improving communication between patients and providers about the benefits and risks of mammograms could help address this issue. Dr. Miglioretti said educating patients on the screening process, which at times may include follow-up imaging and procedures, is important. Physicians also note that clear and consistent communication throughout the screening process, including any follow-up testing, can help patients to make personal decisions about their health.

The BCSC researchers said that offering some women immediate, same-day follow-up of abnormal mammography results could help address some of the issues raised by the current study. 

Some additional ways to reduce the number of false positives in mammograms include:

• Having access to prior mammograms for comparison.
• Using 3D mammography.
• Exploring AI applications to provide a secondary review of images.

Read the full article from NCI here.

Source: National Cancer Institute, summarized with the assistance of AI