The Contribution of Clinical Breast Examination to the Accuracy of Breast Screening

The Contribution of Clinical Breast Examination to the Accuracy of Breast Screening
Anna M. Chiarelli , Vicky Majpruz, Patrick Brown, MarcThériault, Rene Shumak, Verna Mai
J Natl Cancer Inst 2009;101:1236–1243

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Sensitivity of referrals was higher for women who were screened at regional cancer centers or affiliated centers that offered CBE in addition to mammography than for women screened at affiliated centers that did not offer CBE (initial screen: 94.9% and 94.6%, respectively, vs 88.6%; subsequent screen: 94.9% and 91.7%, respectively, vs 85.3%). Mammography sensitivity was similar between centers that offered CBE and those that did not. However, women without cancer who were screened at regional cancer centers or affiliated centers that offered CBE had a higher false-positive rate than women screened at affiliated centers that offered only mammography (initial screen: 12.5% and 12.4%, respectively, vs 7.4%; subsequent screen: 6.3% and 8.3%, respectively, vs 5.4%)

Women should be informed of the benefits and risks of having a CBE in addition to mammography for breast screening