Breast cancer detection: one versus two views.
Mammographic examinations of 169 patients with 172 biopsy-proved carcinomas, and of 194 healthy subjects, were interpreted independently and retrospectively by three experienced mammographers, initially as single-view oblique examinations and 6 months later as two-view oblique-cephalocaudal examinations. For the single-view examinations of the cancer patients, 67% of the cancers were correctly recommended for biopsy, additional views were requested for 23%, and a "negative" interpretation was made for 10%. For the single-view examinations of healthy subjects, biopsy was recommended for 7% and additional views were recommended for 32%. For the two-view examinations of women with cancer, 80% of the cancers were correctly recommended for biopsy, additional views were requested for 4%, and a "negative" interpretation was made for 16%. For two-view examinations of healthy subjects, biopsy was recommended for 7% and additional views were requested for only 5%. The authors conclude that single-view screening should not be performed, because it would lead to an excessive number of "call-back" examinations of healthy patients, producing additional cost and anxiety that would outweigh any theoretical benefit.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies