Mammographic Density Errors during Interpretation of Breast Examinations

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Tamara V. Pavlova, Aleksandr Yu. Vasilyev, Ivan V. Buromsky

 
International Journal of Biomedicine. 2020;10(4):378-381.
DOI: 10.21103/Article10(4)_OA9
Originally published December 10, 2020

Abstract: 

Background: This article discusses errors that may occur when radiologists deal with mammographic density (MD) and present their performance analysis in Russia.
Methods and Results: The authors of this report have analyzed 24,485 mammographic reports for 20,000 female patients (aged 29-85 years) that were made in various healthcare facilities in the Russian Federation. In 249(1.7%) mammographic exam reports, we observed a wrong MD interpretation.
Conclusion: Diagnostic errors during mammographic examination occur because the radiologists lack theoretical knowledge about MD. This lack, in turn, results in a decrease in the quality of medical care provided for female patients and an increase in the number of diagnostic iatrogeny. 

Keywords: 
mammographic density • iatrogeny • error • breast cancer
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Received October 26, 2020.
Accepted November 30, 2020.
©2020 International Medical Research and Development Corporation.