Usefulness of mammography in the diagnosis and management of breast disease in postmenopausal women

Journal Article · Fri Dec 07 04:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Appl. Math. Mech. (USSR) (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1984.03350210047028· OSTI ID:5822445

Lamas, A M; Horwitz, R I; Peck, D

The clinical usefulness of mammography in postmenopausal women was evaluated by conducting a ''vertical'' analysis using indexes of sensitivity and specificity, and a separate ''horizontal'' analysis assessing the relationship between the mammographic test result and the occurrence of specific clinical management decisions. The patients included 105 women with breast cancer, 104 women with fibrocystic breast disease, and 103 women with clinically benign breasts. The study confirmed the generally accepted high values reported for the sensitivity and for the specificity of mammography as a test for breast cancer, while also helping to reconcile the widely varying indexes of test efficacy reported in some studies. The authors also observed that physicians' management decisions vary according to the mammographic interpretation, and include such distinctive clinical strategies as watchful expectancy (observe and follow), repeated mammograms, or breast biopsy. Future studies will need to determine reasons for specific management decisions, especially when they appear to contradict authoritative recommendations.

• Research Organization: Yale Univ. School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
• OSTI ID: 5822445
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Math. Mech. (USSR) (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Math. Mech. (USSR) (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 252:21; ISSN JAMMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AGE GROUPS
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DECISION MAKING
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
EVALUATION
GLANDS
INFORMATION
MAMMARY GLANDS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOLOGY
RECOMMENDATIONS
THERAPY