Authors' objectives: To systematically review the literature on the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive imaging technologies proposed to be useful as part of the workup after recall of women with suspicious breast abnormalities identified on routine screening. This report is an update of a Comparative Effectiveness Review originally published in 2006.

Authors' recommendations: The use of noninvasive imaging, in addition to standard workup of women recalled for evaluation of an abnormality detected on breast cancer screening, may be clinically useful for diagnostic purposes only for women with a low (less than 12%) pretest suspicion of malignancy. When choosing which noninvasive imaging technology to use for this purpose, the evidence appears to suggest that diagnostic B-mode grayscale ultrasound and MRI are more accurate than PET, scintimammography, or Doppler ultrasound. The utility of these findings, however, depend on whether clinicians can identify women with a pretest suspicion of malignancy in the ranges necessary for the tests to affect management. Several of the expert reviewers of this report did not think this is currently possible.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2012

URL for published report: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/ehc/products/172/960/CER47_breastabnormalities_finalreport.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;

Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)