Biopsy More Effective Than Noninvasive Tests for Breast Cancer

Four common noninvasive tests for breast cancer are not accurate enough to routinely replace biopsies for women who receive abnormal findings from a mammogram or physical examination, according to a study released (February 9, 2006) by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The report finds that each of the four tests—magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, positron emission tomography scanning, and scintimammography—would miss a significant number of cases of cancer, compared with immediate biopsy for women at high-enough risk to warrant evaluation for breast cancer.

The report is available at http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/synthesize/reports/final.cfm.