Race, breast density, medical history and imaging facility affiliation can influence the likelihood of false-negative mammogram results, according to a study published Oct. 22 in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Researchers evaluated 38,304,525 mammography results from the National Mammography Database that performed between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2022. Both screening and diagnostic mammogram results were evaluated.
False-negative mammograms were defined as those that produced a negative result for a patient who received a positive tissue diagnosis within one year. False-negative rates were computed per 1,000 examinations.
Here are four things to know from the study:
- The false-negative rate from 32,267,238 screening examinations was 1.9 per 1000 examinations.
The false-negative rate of screening examinations increased from 0.7 in 2010 to 2.5 between 2020 and 2022. - The false-negative rate from 6,037,287 diagnostic examinations was 4.0 per 1000 examinations.
The false-negative rate of diagnostic examinations increased from 2.3 in 2010 to 5.4 in 2020. - The likelihood of a false-negative result among screening examinations was:
- Lower for patients whose race was not white
- Higher for patients with a breast density other than almost entirely fatty breasts
- Higher for patients with a personal or family history of breast cancer
- Higher for mammograms conducted at an academic or university-based facility
- The likelihood of a false-negative result among diagnostic examinations was:
- Lower for Asian, Hawaiian and Hispanic patients
- Higher for Black patients
- Higher for patients with heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts
- Higher for patients with a personal or family history of breast cancer
- Higher for mammograms conducted at an academic or university-based facility
- “Rates of false-negative screening and diagnostic mammograms increased over time and showed significant associations with patient and facility characteristics,” the study authors wrote. “Exploration of the causes of the observed associations could inform quality assurance efforts to reduce the risk of delayed breast cancer diagnoses.”
Read the full study here.
