ECRI Institute estimated that 80 of those women who had false-positive results would undergo biopsy.

Although the results of this evidence report pertain mainly to health care providers, patients do need to know about the advantages and potential drawbacks of CAD mammography, Noble said. Most notably, physicians should tell women who undergo CAD mammography screenings that there are more false-positives when CAD is used.


False-positive findings can provoke anxiety, but some women and their doctors might find them to be an acceptable trade-off for identifying some additional cancers, Noble added.

CAD mammography received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998.

About ECRI Institute
ECRI Institute, a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare to uncover the best approaches to improving patient care. As pioneers in this science for 40 years, ECRI Institute marries experience and independence with the objectivity of evidence-based research. ECRI Institute is designated a Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization and an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI Institute PSO has been officially designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a federal Patient Safety Organization under the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005.

Back to HCB News

More Industry Headlines