ACR blasts breast imaging study as misleading

The American College of Radiology criticized a study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that found current noninvasive imaging cannot replace biopsy to exclude or confirm breast cancer.

The report, Effectiveness of noninvasive diagnostic tests for breast abnormalities, stated that the accuracy of scintimammography, PET, ultrasound, and MRI is suboptimal compared with biopsy.

Officials in the ACR said that breast imagers are well acquainted with the protocol regarding a suspicious mammographic finding, which generally calls for biopsy. The college also expressed concern that the report would mislead women into foregoing additional imaging after an inconclusive screening mammogram.