Non‐Operative Observation of Mammographic Abnormalities: Medical Legal Implications

Abstract: Delay in breast cancer diagnosis continues to account for the highest percentage of medical malpractice cases. Two papers were reviewed concerning palpation and mammo‐graphic thresholds of detection and prognostic factor analysis for breast cancer. Most tumors were not palpated by experienced clinicians until the masses were larger than 15 mm. Mammograms are misinterpreted at a rate of 1.8%, and 7% of the mammograms are false negative with either palpable cancers or interval cancers developing. In a multivariate regression analysis, lymph node status was the most powerful predictor of disease, free survival (DFS), and tumor size added little to the model. Guidelines for the practicing physician and the medical legal system were offered from the data reviewed. Copyright © 1995, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Duke Scholars

Author Gary Herbert Lyman Medicine, Medical Oncology