UVM Cancer Center member Brian Sprague, Ph.D., professor of surgery, biochemistry, and radiology

(SEPTEMBER 3, 2024) HealthDay featured a study by UVM Cancer Center member Brian Sprague, Ph.D., professor of surgery, biochemistry, and radiology, et al. investigating the effect of false-positive mammogram results on women’s willingness to return for future screening.

The study, “Association Between False-Positive Results and Return to Screening Mammography in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium Cohort,” published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that false-positive mammogram results are discouraging many women from returning for important follow-up screenings. Researchers say the additional imaging or biopsies performed after a suspicious finding often cause significant anxiety.

False-positive results are common, according to the study, and while most recalled patients do not have breast cancer, researchers say it’s important that they continue screening every one to two years.