Articles tagged with Mammography
Breast cancer screening should be tailored to each woman's risk, considering the benefits and harms of mammography. Experts recommend clinicians engage patients in shared decision-making to determine individualized screening plans.
The new instrument increases the sensitivity of optical mammography by up to 1000-fold, allowing for earlier detection of breast cancer. This advancement offers a safer and more gentle alternative to traditional X-ray imaging, which is often limited by patient age, weight, or other factors.
A study presented at the ARRS 2018 Annual Meeting found that screening mammography in women aged 40-49 detects 19.3% more cancers than in older age groups, but also increases callbacks and biopsies by 1.5% and 0.1%, respectively.
A study by the University of Louisville found that Medicaid expansion in Kentucky led to an increase in diagnosis rates of early-stage breast cancer and greater utilization of breast-conserving surgery. However, improvements in efficiency and timing of postsurgical therapy were less robust.
After the Affordable Care Act eliminated cost sharing for screening mammograms, mammogram rates increased six percentage points among older women, according to a Brown University study. The study found that eliminating copayments led to an increase in their use and was concentrated among women with more education.
A study found that bi-annual dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) exams were more effective in detecting breast cancer in younger women with a high-risk genetic profile than an annual mammogram. The intensive surveillance strategy reduced anxiety levels and improved quality of life for participants.
A study found that 3-D mammography, although more expensive upfront, is a cost-effective screening method due to its higher true negative rates and lower false positive rates compared to digital mammography. The analysis of 46,483 screening episodes showed that DBT reduced cancer diagnosis-related costs in the following year.
A study published by Springer found that many women with high breast cancer risk are not receiving MRI scans, while those at lower risk are being screened too frequently. This highlights a missed opportunity to use technology that can help detect breast cancer early in high-risk groups.
Researchers found that contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) is comparable to breast MRI in evaluating residual breast cancer after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy or chemotherapy. CEDM may be a more accessible and cost-effective alternative to breast MRI, with fewer anxiety-provoking effects for patients.
Research suggests breast cancer screening in the Netherlands has a marginal effect on mortality, with improved treatments associated with a 28% reduction. Overdiagnosis has steadily increased due to extended screening and digital mammography.
A national survey of physicians found that those with a social network member with poor breast cancer prognosis are more likely to recommend routine mammograms for younger and older patients. This suggests the need for better understanding the personal experiences that shape clinicians' practices.
Researchers found that abbreviated breast MRI (AB-MR) detected five additional cancers in asymptomatic women with dense breast tissue after a negative mammogram. AB-MR may be a better option than whole breast ultrasound for supplemental screening.
A new study by Einstein Medical Center found that 71% of women surveyed preferred annual mammograms, citing empowerment and education as key factors. The research challenges the USPSTF's biennial screening recommendation, highlighting the importance of women's preferences in healthcare decisions.
Researchers found significant differences between mobile mammography patients and those at a cancer center, including higher recall rates and racial diversity. The study aims to develop targeted programs to increase screening rates among underserved populations.
The Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) is a randomized trial comparing two types of digital mammography for breast cancer screening. The study aims to determine if the newer technology, tomosynthesis (3D), reduces advanced breast cancers more effectively than conventional mammography.
A study found that a religiously sensitive educational effort increased Muslim women's perceived likelihood of getting mammograms and their eventual receipt of breast screenings. The intervention, held in mosques, addressed cultural and religious barriers to mammography, reframing modesty as not the ultimate value.
A study published in Medical Care found that fewer than 20% of US women are aware of the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment from breast cancer screening. Women's perceptions of these risks are often negative, with those who have recently had a mammogram being particularly unconvinced.
A new study found that annual screening starting at age 40 reduces breast cancer-specific deaths by nearly 40%, compared to 23-31% reductions with other recommendations. The findings suggest that women starting annual mammography at age 40 may benefit from a significant reduction in breast cancer-related deaths.
Women who receive false-positive mammogram results are more likely to begin medication for anxiety or depression than those with immediate negative results. A 10-20% higher rate of prescription medications was found in patients requiring multiple tests to rule out a breast cancer diagnosis.
A multicenter study found that MRI screening added 3.8 additional cancers per 1,000 women compared to mammography alone, while ultrasonography added 2.4 additional cancers. Women treated with breast conservation surgery and radiotherapy remain at increased risk for second breast cancers.
A recent study published in CANCER found that Asian women are less likely to receive timely follow-up tests after an abnormal mammogram compared to non-Hispanic White women. The study highlights disparities in breast cancer screening and outcomes among Asian ethnic groups, with Vietnamese and Filipino women facing the longest delays.
Recent guideline changes have led to disagreement among professional societies on best practices for mammography. Physician screening recommendations vary, with some recommending annual exams and others prioritizing biennial screenings.
A new study by Florida Atlantic University researchers found that American workers without paid sick leave are less likely to receive preventive health care screenings, including flu shots. The study highlights the importance of paid sick leave benefits in promoting public health.
New study reveals improved cancer detection rates with digital mammography, but also increased abnormal interpretation rates leading to more unnecessary biopsies for benign conditions. The study highlights the need for quality improvement initiatives to address these trends.
A new digital breast tomosynthesis technique has been shown to reduce screening recall rates and improve cancer detection, while minimizing radiation exposure. The technique, known as s2D mammography combined with DBT, detected 76.5% of invasive cancers at a lower rate than traditional methods.
Constantine Gatsonis, a leading researcher on cancer screening studies, emphasizes the importance of rigorously produced evidence in health screenings. His work has shed light on the accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and impact of various screening methods, including digital mammography and tomosynthesis.
A new study found that women who have a false positive result from a screening mammogram are more likely to delay or forgo their subsequent screening mammogram. This delay can increase the risk of late-stage breast cancer diagnosis, which can lead to poorer treatment outcomes.
A new study found that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased mammography use among all economic subgroups, including those with lower incomes. However, colonoscopy screening rates remained unchanged despite eliminating out-of-pocket expenses under the ACA. The findings suggest that other barriers to colonoscopy access may still exist.
A large study analyzed over 5.6 million screening mammograms and found a gradual upward trend in cancer detection rates and positive predictive values with increasing age, but no clear evidence for age-based mammography cessation. The findings support guidelines encouraging individual patient decisions based on health status.
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that radiologists who compare prior mammograms with more than one image have better true-positive outcomes and fewer false-positives. This reduction in recall rates can lead to a decrease in anxiety, radiation exposure, biopsies, and healthcare costs for patients.
A recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that uninsured women under 65 years of age are more likely to experience delays in receiving follow-up mammograms. These delays can contribute to disparities in breast cancer outcomes, including larger tumor size at diagnosis and reduced survival.
Women with extremely high breast density are more likely to develop breast cancer, and current mammography technology may miss tumors. Researchers are working to improve breast cancer diagnosis and health outcomes for women through education and better utilization of screening methods.
Researchers at RIT and Rochester Regional Health are advancing thermal imaging techniques for detecting early-stage breast cancer. The collaboration aims to increase the accuracy of screening using a potentially safer and less invasive diagnostic tool.
A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital investigators shows that trained radiologists can identify abnormal mammograms at better than chance levels when shown images for only half a second. The researchers found that finer details of breast tissue texture help radiologists make the correct diagnosis more frequently.
Researchers at Houston Methodist developed an AI software that reliably interprets mammograms to predict breast cancer risk. The software achieves 99% accuracy in 30 times human speed, reducing unnecessary biopsies and saving physician hours.
Breast density and risk can inform decision to adjust mammogram screening frequency; average-risk women with lower breast density may safely extend screening interval to once every three years. Higher-risk women with dense breasts would reap greater benefit from annual screening, according to the American College of Physicians.
A new report by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute proposes a bundled payment model for breast cancer screening, which could help reduce healthcare costs and improve patient adherence to screening guidelines. The model includes mammography and downstream diagnostic imaging services within a 364-day episode window.
The American Cancer Society's new guidelines modify mammography ages and emphasize patient involvement in decision-making. The shift aims to balance cancer detection with the high rate of false positives, which are approximately 19 times more likely than true positives.
Researchers have developed a new device that enables existing breast cancer imagers to provide up to six times better contrast of tumors in the breast while maintaining the same or better image quality. The Variable Angle Slant Hole Collimator reduces radiation dose to patients by half, potentially improving imaging of other organs.
A study by Dr Sian Taylor-Phillips and her team found no decline in mammogram readers' accuracy, despite previous theories suggesting a 'vigilance decrement.' The researchers analyzed 1.2 million women's x-rays and found that cancer detection rates stayed constant throughout each batch of approximately 35 readings.
A study published in JAMA found that longer periods of film readers interpreting screening mammograms did not result in a reduced rate of breast cancer detection. The researchers investigated the impact of changing the order in which two experts examined digital mammograms on cancer detection rates, but found no significant difference.
A study by Nancy R. Kressin and colleagues found that dense breast notifications sent to women after mammography contain poor readability and understandability, potentially exacerbating disparities in breast cancer screening. Only three states' notifications met the recommended readability level of grades 7-8 or above.
A new study found that dense breast notifications are often poorly readable and understandable, creating uncertainty for women making decisions about supplemental screening. The study suggests that efforts should focus on enhancing the readability of these notifications to inform women accurately about their breast density status.
A study published in JAMA found that adding tomosynthesis to digital mammography significantly increased cancer detection rates and reduced recall rates for women with dense breasts. The findings suggest that supplemental breast cancer screening using tomosynthesis may improve outcomes for women with varying levels of breast density.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that Latina women who received 'Promotora' visits had nearly twice the screening rate of those who did not receive visits. The study showed a modest but significant increase in screening rates, with over 19% of participants completing a mammogram within a year.
A study suggests that breast arterial calcification visible on digital mammography is linked to coronary arterial calcification and cardiovascular risk. The presence of breast arterial calcification appears to be an equivalent or stronger risk factor for CAC than other well-established cardiovascular risk factors.
Adding tomosynthesis or ultrasound scans to standard mammograms detects more breast cancers in women with dense breasts. These imaging technologies picked up an extra 24 cancers, improving detection rates.
A new study found significant reductions in breast cancer screening outcomes after implementing digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), including lower patient recall rates and a decline in interval cancers. The study suggests DBT can be sustained over time with improved outcomes.
A study published in JAMA Oncology found that 3D mammography improved cancer detection and reduced call backs over three years. Regularly scheduled 3D mammography imaging maintained these benefits, even after a patient's first screening.
A systematic review of breast density studies found unreliable determinations and a significant risk of re-categorization. Supplemental diagnostic screenings for women with dense breasts may find additional cancers but also greatly increase false positive results, highlighting the need for more research on evaluation methods.
The USPSTF recommends regular mammography screening for women aged 50-74, with a recommended frequency of every two years. Women in their 40s should make an individual decision with their doctor about starting screening, considering factors like health history and preferences. The Task Force also notes that screening is less effective ...
A comprehensive modeling study found that breast cancer screening with digital mammography poses only a small risk of radiation-induced breast cancer for most women. However, the research showed increased risk for women with large breasts or breast implants. The study suggests biennial screening from ages 50 to 74 may be the safest opt...
A study published in JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that ultrasound sensitivity is comparable to mammography, but with a higher false-positive rate. The researchers suggest considering ultrasound as a supplemental test for women with dense breasts or those unable to tolerate MRI.
Women with a history of false-positive mammogram results may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer for up to 10 years after the initial false-positive result. A new study found that women who received a false-positive result had a 39% higher risk of subsequent breast cancer compared to those with true-negative results.
A new study suggests that breast density alone is not a significant risk factor for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The study found no significant difference in breast density between breast cancer patients and control groups.
A new study found that pigeons can accurately distinguish between benign and malignant breast cancer slides, similar to human observers. With some training, pigeons performed just as well as humans in categorizing digitized microscope slides and mammograms of normal vs. cancerous breast tissue.
A new study finds that pigeons can accurately categorize digitized microscope slides and mammograms of benign and malignant human breast tissue. With training, they perform as well as humans in this task, demonstrating a remarkable ability to perceive and process visual cues.
A new study published by Bielefeld University found that only one in three women participating in Germany's mammography screening programme (MSP) are well-informed about it. The study also showed that women with higher levels of education and those from Turkish migration backgrounds are more likely to make an informed decision.
A new study published in The Lancet found that adding ultrasound to standard mammography tests results in higher rates of detection for breast cancer in Japanese women. The J-START trial showed a sensitivity of 91% with ultrasound combined with mammography, compared to 77% for mammography alone.
A large study found that high-grade DCIS detection rates increase with age, particularly among women over 65. The study suggests that standard DCIS therapy may not be effective in this age group and highlights the need for more research on the effectiveness of screening.