Add BrightSurf on Google Email

20-year results from breast cancer screening program show a significant drop in deaths, limited harm and reasonable costs

A 20-year breast cancer screening program in the Netherlands showed a significant drop in deaths from the disease, with a 31% reduction in deaths among women aged 55-79. The program also found limited harm from false positives and over-diagnosis, with only 2.8% of all breast cancers diagnosed being over-diagnosed.

Discordance among commercially-available diagnostics for latent TB infection

A study found that commercially-available tests for latent TB infection have high false-positive rates in low-prevalence populations, with 77% of subjects having positive results with only one test. The findings suggest that risk stratification may increase the predictive value and reduce false positives.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateDec 9, 2011

GPs missing early dementia -- new study

A new study by the University of Leicester found that GPs struggle to identify people in the early stages of dementia, resulting in both missed cases and misidentifications. The research analyzed 15,277 patients with cognitive disorders, identifying a significant number of false positives.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica·DateJun 20, 2011

Psychiatry's main method to prevent mistaken diagnoses of depression doesn't work: NYU study

A recent NYU study empirically challenges the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' criteria for diagnosing depression, suggesting that psychiatrists' official method to prevent false-positive diagnoses may not be effective. The study examines the Clinical Significance Criterion (CSC)...

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Psychiatry·DateFeb 24, 2010

Screening combination for PTs with colorectal cancer could reduce need for more invasive procedures

Researchers propose a simple test that identifies more accurately individuals who might have colorectal cancer when used alongside traditional guaiac tests. This new approach could decrease the number of false positives in screening programs and reduce the need for colonoscopy, potentially leading to improved accuracy and reduced costs.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateJan 5, 2006

Mammography has low risk of recall for false positive findings

A study by Solveig Hofvind and colleagues found that women who undergo biennial mammography between ages 50-69 have a 20.8% cumulative risk of false positive recall after 20 years. This risk is lower for benign procedures, with only 1 in 66 women requiring a core biopsy and 0.9% undergoing open biopsy.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateAug 23, 2004