The evaluation of false negative mammography from malignant and benign breast lesions

Preoperative mammograms from 395 breast cancers and 132 benign breast lesio ns were enrolled for this study. The false-negative (FN) rate for breast ca ncers from preoperative reading was 9.6% with 38 breast cancers missed on m ammograms. The statistically significant differences occurred between true- positive (TP) and FN cancers for younger age (P<.025), smaller lesion size (P<.001), denser breast (P<.05), deep retroglandular location (P<.001). Non e of the FN cancers exhibited calcifications. The FN rate for mammography f or benign breast lesions from preoperative reading was 18.9% with 25 lesion s misdiagnosed. The statistically significant difference between benign TP and FN lesions occurred for central and subareolar location (P<.025). Explo ration of possible factors and imaging features in FN mammograms can help r educe the FN rate for mammography. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All right s reserved.