Errors in Mammography Cannot be Solved Through Technology Alone
Errors in Mammography Cannot be Solved Through Technology Alone
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018 Feb 26;19(2):291-301
Authors: Ekpo EU, Alakhras M, Brennan P
Abstract
Mammography has been the frontline screening tool for breast cancer for decades. However, high error rates in the
form of false negatives (FNs) and false positives (FPs) have persisted despite technological improvements. Radiologists
still miss between 10% and 30% of cancers while 80% of woman recalled for additional views have normal outcomes,
with 40% of biopsied lesions being benign. Research show that the majority of cancers missed is actually visible and
looked at, but either go unnoticed or are deemed to be benign. Causal agents for these errors include human related
characteristics resulting in contributory search, perception and decision-making behaviours. Technical, patient and
lesion factors are also important relating to positioning, compression, patient size, breast density and presence of
breast implants as well as the nature and subtype of the cancer itself, where features such as architectural distortion
and triple-negative cancers remain challenging to detect on screening. A better understanding of these causal agents
as well as the adoption of technological and educational interventions, which audits reader performance and provide
immediate perceptual feedback, should help. This paper reviews the current status of our knowledge around error rates
in mammog...
Source: Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Asian Pac J Cancer Prev Source Type: research
More News: Breast Augmentation | Breast Cancer | Cancer | Cancer & Oncology | Education | Mammography | Plastic Surgery | Radiology | Women