Decreased accuracy in interpretation of community-based screening mammography for women with multiple clinical risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of women's breast cancer risk factors (use of hormone therapy, family history of breast cancer, previous breast biopsy) on radiologists' mammographic interpretive performance and whether the influence of risk factors varies according to radiologist characteristics.


METHODS
Screening mammograms (n=638,947) performed from 1996 to 2005 by 134 radiologists from three Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium registries was linked to cancer outcomes, radiologist surveys, and patient questionnaires. Interpretive performance measures were modeled using marginal and conditional logistic regression.


RESULTS
Having one or more clinical risk factors was associated with higher recall rates (1 vs. 0 risk factors: odds ratio [OR]=1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.15-1.19; > or = 2 vs. 0: OR=1.43, 95% CI=1.40-1.47) and lower specificity (1 vs. 0: OR=0.86 [95% CI=0.84-0.88]; > or = 2 vs. 0: OR=0.70 [95% CI=0.68-0.72]) without a corresponding improvement in sensitivity and only a small increase in positive predictive value (1 vs. 0: OR=1.08 [95% CI=0.99-1.19]; > or = 2 vs. 0: OR=1.12 [95% CI=0.99-1.26]). There was no indication that influence of risk factors varied by radiologist characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with clinical risk factors who undergo screening mammography are more likely recalled for false-positive evaluation without an associated increase in cancer detection. Radiologists and patients with risk factors should be aware of this increased risk of adverse screening events.
Cook
Andrea J
AJ
Biostatistics Unit, Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. cook.aj@ghc.org
Elmore
Joann G
JG
Miglioretti
Diana L
DL
Sickles
Edward A
EA
Aiello Bowles
Erin J
EJ
Cutter
Gary R
GR
Carney
Patricia A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors