False-Positive Mammogram Result Has Many Women Quitting Mammography

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 3, 2024.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Sept. 3, 2024 -- A significant number of women stop getting regular mammograms after being frightened by a “false positive” scan that incorrectly suggests they have breast cancer, a new study finds.

About 77% of women return for a regular mammogram after a negative result that shows they’re clearly cancer-free, researchers reported Sept. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

But that percentage drops to 61% if a woman receives a false-positive reading, which requires a follow-up mammogram to rule out or verify breast cancer.

What’s more, only 56% of women who receive false-positive results on two consecutive mammograms returned for regular screenings.

Researchers also found that only 67% of women returned for routine mammography if a false-positive reading requires a biopsy to rule out cancer.

“The finding raises concerns about the potential unintended consequence of false-positive results, where women may avoid screening mammograms in the future,” said lead investigator Diana Miglioretti, chief of the University of California, Davis' Division of Biostatistics.

It’s crucial that women get their regularly scheduled mammogram, especially if they have a false-positive scare, Miglioretti stressed.

“It is important for women with false-positive results to continue screening every one to two years,” Miglioretti said in a university news release. “Having a false-positive result, especially if it results in a diagnosis of benign breast disease, is associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the future.”

For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 3.5 million screening mammograms conducted in the United States between 2005 and 2017, involving more than 1 million women ages 40 to 73.

About 10% of the time, additional imaging is needed to get a better look at an abnormal finding on a screening mammogram, researchers said in background notes.

After 10 years of annual screenings, 50% to 60% of women can expect at least one false-positive, and 7% to 12% a false positive with a biopsy recommendation.

Any abnormal result from a mammogram causes understandable anxiety and concern, researchers said.

“It’s important to understand that most women recalled for additional imaging due to a finding on a screening mammogram do not have breast cancer,” Miglioretti said. “They should try not to be worried if they are recalled for additional work-up. it is a normal and common part of the screening process.”

Asian and Hispanic woman were the least likely to return for mammograms following a false positive result, researchers found.

Women who are anxious about waiting for a mammogram result can request an on-the-spot interpretation of their scan, Miglioretti said. Some imaging facilities provide this service along with a same-day diagnostic work-up if there’s an abnormal finding.

Doctors also need to do a better job counseling patients following a false positive result, Miglioretti added.

Sources

  • University of California, Davis, news release, Sept. 2, 2024

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-09-04 15:23

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords