The latest and greatest technology isn’t necessarily better medicine:
Computer-aided detection systems not only failed to detect more breast cancer in women who had screening mammograms, researchers report in tomorrow’s New England Journal of Medicine, but it also may have harmed them by generating a higher number of false-positive readings, resulting in significantly more call-backs for repeat mammograms and biopsies.
Related posts:
- The dangers of overscreening
- Mammogram accuracy
- Dangers of false positive mammograms
- Radiologists and communicating mammogram results to patients and their doctors
- Beware who’s behind the guidelines
- Screening for ovarian cancer redux
- Mammogram screening guidelines
KevinMD.com on Facebook
{ 2 comments }
I can’t wait for the commentary by Dr. Nancy Snyderman.
Our local small town radiologists adopted this technology about 5 years ago and I saw the false positive rate go up.I tried to get them to measure the outcomes, study the numbers on our population but there was no time, no money, no interest, and besides, the deep pocket hospital bought the software for the overpaid radiologists…No Incentive to IMPROVE.
http://poemd.blogspot.com/2007/03/quality.html
So now we have a large enough study to show the limited marginal benefit…Ah, Progress…The news instead is full of Breast MRI advice….More false positives…And we can’t teach statistics in Jr Hi…But most physicians haven’t a grasp….
Comments on this entry are closed.