Annals
Established in 1927 by the American College of Physicians
:
Advanced search
 
box Article
 arrow  Table of Contents                
space
 arrow  Full Text of this article Free
space
 arrow  PDF of this article
(PDFs free after 6 months)
space
 arrow  Figures/Tables List
space
 arrow  Related articles in Annals
space
box Services
 arrow  Send comment/rapid response letter
space
 arrow  Notify a friend about this article
space
 arrow  Alert me when this article is cited
space
 arrow  Add to Personal Archive
space
 arrow  Download to Citation Manager
space
 arrow  ACP Search                        
space
 arrow  Get Permissions
space
box Google Scholar
 arrow  Search for Related Content
space
box PubMed
Articles in PubMed by Author:
  arrow  Burman, M. L.
space
  arrow  Elmore, J. G.
space
 arrow  Related Articles in PubMed
space
 arrow  PubMed Citation
space
 arrow  PubMed
space

ARTICLE

Effect of False-Positive Mammograms on Interval Breast Cancer Screening in a Health Maintenance Organization

right arrow Marcia L. Burman, MD; Stephen H. Taplin, MD, MPH; Douglas F. Herta, MPA; and Joann G. Elmore, MD, MPH

6 July 1999 | Volume 131 Issue 1 | Pages 1-6

Background: Despite the mortality benefits of breast cancer screening, not all women receive regular mammography. Such factors as age, socioeconomic status, and physician recommendation have been associated with greater use of screening. However, we do not know whether having an abnormal mammogram affects future screening.

Objective: To examine the effect of a false-positive mammogram on adherence to the next recommended screening mammogram.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: The breast cancer screening program at Group Health Cooperative, a health maintenance organization in Washington state.

Patients: 5059 women 40 years of age or older with no history of breast cancer or breast surgery who had false-positive (n = 813) or true-negative (n = 4246) index screening mammograms between 1 August 1990 and 31 July 1992.

Measurements: Screening rates and odds ratios for recommended interval screening up to 42 months after the index mammogram.

Results: After adjustment for differences in age; previous use of mammography; family history of breast cancer; exogenous hormone use; and age at menarche, first childbirth, and menopause, women with false-positive index mammograms were more likely than those with true-negative index mammograms to obtain their next recommended screening mammogram (odds ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.45]). The relation between a false-positive mammogram and the likelihood of adherence to screening in the next recommended interval was strongest among women who had not previously undergone mammography (odds ratio, 1.66 [CI, 1.26 to 2.17]).

Conclusions: Having a false-positive mammogram did not adversely affect screening behavior in the next recommended interval. Women with false-positive mammograms, especially those without previous mammography, were more likely to return for the next scheduled screening.

Author and Article Information
space

From Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System (Seattle Division), Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Grant Support: By Department of Veterans Affairs Ambulatory Care Fellowship Program (Dr. Burman), grant CA6371 from the National Cancer Institute (Dr. Taplin and Mr. Herta), and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Generalist Physician Faculty Award (Dr. Elmore).

Requests for Reprints: Marcia L. Burman, MD, Health Services Research and Development, Mailstop 152, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System (Seattle Division), 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108; e-mail, mburman{at}u.washington.edu.

Current Author Addresses: Dr. Burman: Health Services Research and Development, Mailstop 152, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System (Seattle Division), 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108.

Dr. Taplin and Mr. Herta: Department of Preventive Care, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, 1730 Minor Avenue, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98101-1448.

Dr. Elmore: Division of General Internal Medicine, Box 356420, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195.


Related articles in Annals:

Editorials
False-Positive Screening Mammograms: Good News, but More To Do
Suzanne W. Fletcher
Annals 1999 131: 60-62. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
N. T. Brewer, T. Salz, and S. E. Lillie
Systematic Review: The Long-Term Effects of False-Positive Mammograms
Ann Intern Med, April 3, 2007; 146(7): 502 - 510.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
K. Armstrong, E. Moye, S. Williams, J. A. Berlin, and E. E. Reynolds
Screening Mammography in Women 40 to 49 Years of Age: A Systematic Review for the American College of Physicians
Ann Intern Med, April 3, 2007; 146(7): 516 - 526.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
K. L. Taylor, R. Shelby, E. Gelmann, and C. McGuire
Quality of Life and Trial Adherence Among Participants in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
J Natl Cancer Inst, July 21, 2004; 96(14): 1083 - 1094.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
RadiologyHome page
L. E. M. Duijm, J. H. Groenewoud, J. H. C. L. Hendriks, and H. J. de Koning
Independent Double Reading of Screening Mammograms in the Netherlands: Effect of Arbitration Following Reader Disagreements
Radiology, May 1, 2004; 231(2): 564 - 570.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.Home page
J. K. Bobo, J. A. Shapiro, J. Schulman, and C. L. Wolters
On-Schedule Mammography Rescreening in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., April 1, 2004; 13(4): 620 - 630.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
J. Cullen, M. D. Schwartz, W. F. Lawrence, J. V. Selby, and J. S. Mandelblatt
Short-Term Impact of Cancer Prevention and Screening Activities on Quality of Life
J. Clin. Oncol., March 1, 2004; 22(5): 943 - 952.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
RadiologyHome page
C. L. Sistrom and C. W. Garvan
Proportions, Odds, and Risk
Radiology, January 1, 2004; 230(1): 12 - 19.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
J. G. Elmore, C. Y. Nakano, T. D. Koepsell, L. M. Desnick, C. J. D'Orsi, and D. F. Ransohoff
International Variation in Screening Mammography Interpretations in Community-Based Programs
J Natl Cancer Inst, September 17, 2003; 95(18): 1384 - 1393.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
S. W. Fletcher and J. G. Elmore
Mammographic Screening for Breast Cancer
N. Engl. J. Med., April 24, 2003; 348(17): 1672 - 1680.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.Home page
M. E. Ford, S. L. Havstad, L. Flickinger, and C. C. Johnson
Examining the Effects of False Positive Lung Cancer Screening Results on Subsequent Lung Cancer Screening Adherence
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., January 1, 2003; 12(1): 28 - 33.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
L. L. Humphrey, M. Helfand, B. K.S. Chan, and S. H. Woolf
Breast Cancer Screening: A Summary of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Ann Intern Med, September 3, 2002; 137(5_Part_1): 347 - 360.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Roentgenol.Home page
A. Priyanath, J. Feinglass, N. C. Dolan, C. Haviley, and L. A. Venta
Patient Satisfaction with the Communication of Mammographic Results Before and After the Mammography Quality Standards Reauthorization Act of 1998
Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2002; 178(2): 451 - 456.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
RadiologyHome page
K. K. Lindfors, J. O’Connor, and R. A. Parker
False-Positive Screening Mammograms: Effect of Immediate versus Later Work-up on Patient Stress
Radiology, January 1, 2001; 218(1): 247 - 253.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
K. Kerlikowske, P. A. Carney, B. Geller, M. T. Mandelson, S. H. Taplin, K. Malvin, V. Ernster, N. Urban, G. Cutter, R. Rosenberg, et al.
Performance of Screening Mammography among Women with and without a First-Degree Relative with Breast Cancer
Ann Intern Med, December 5, 2000; 133(11): 855 - 863.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BMJHome page
L. M Schwartz, S. Woloshin, H. C Sox, B. Fischhoff, and H G. Welch
US women's attitudes to false positive mammography results and detection of ductal carcinoma in situ: cross sectional survey
BMJ, June 17, 2000; 320(7250): 1635 - 1640.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
JWatch Women's HealthHome page
False-Positive Mammograms and Subsequent Screening
Journal Watch Women's Health, September 1, 1999; 1999(901): 11 - 11.
[Full Text]


Home page
JWatch GeneralHome page
False Positives Do Not Decrease Mammography Adherence
Journal Watch (General), July 20, 1999; 1999(720): 4 - 4.
[Full Text]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
S. W. Fletcher
False-Positive Screening Mammograms: Good News, but More To Do
Ann Intern Med, July 6, 1999; 131(1): 60 - 62.
[Full Text] [PDF]




 Home | Current Issue | Past Issues | In the Clinic | ACP Journal Club | CME | Collections | Audio/Video | Mobile | Subscribe | Tools | Help | ACP Online 

Copyright © 1999 by the American College of Physicians.