J Korean Radiol Soc.
2007 Feb;56(2):191-202. 10.3348/jkrs.2007.56.2.191.
Analysis of Previous Screening Examinations for Patients with Breast Cancer
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Radiology and Breast Center, Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital, Korea. jhcha@radiol.snu.ac.kr
- 2Department of Radiology, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.
- 3Department of Surgery and Breast Center, Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital, Korea.
- 4Department of Surgery, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.
- 5Department of Radiology and Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea.
- KMID: 2024502
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2007.56.2.191
Abstract
- PURPOSE
We wanted to improve the quality of subsequent screening by reviewing the previous screening of breast cancer patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-four breast cancer patients who underwent previous screening were enrolled. All 24 took mammograms and 15 patients also took sonograms. We reviewed the screening retrospectively according to the BI-RADS criteria and we categorized the results into false negative, true negative, true positive and occult cancers. We also categorized the causes of false negative cancers into misperception, misinterpretation and technical factors and then we analyzed the attributing factors.
RESULTS
Review of the previous screening revealed 66.7% (16/24) false negative, 25.0% (6/24) true negative, and 8.3% (2/24) true positive cancers. False negative cancers were caused by the mammogram in 56.3% (9/16) and by the sonogram in 43.7% (7/16). For the false negative cases, all of misperception were related with mammograms and this was attributed to dense breast, a lesion located at the edge of glandular tissue or the image, and findings seen on one view only. Almost all misinterpretations were related with sonograms and attributed to loose application of the final assessment.
CONCLUSION
To improve the quality of breast screening, it is essential to overcome the main causes of false negative examinations, including misperception and misinterpretation. We need systematic education and strict application of final assessment categories of BI-RADS. For effective communication among physicians, it is also necessary to properly educate them about BI-RADS.
