Study Compares the Effectiveness of Screening Programs for the Classification of Interval Breast Cancers

A study comparing Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) and Screen Film Mammography (SFM) in breast screening programs was published on March 15, 2015, in the online journal European Journal of Radiology.

The study was carried out by the Irish National Breast Screening program (Dublin, Ireland) and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (Dublin, Ireland), and looked at the impact of FFDM on the classification, and mammographic characteristics of interval breast cancers, at independent blind review. The study also compared the mammographic features of interval cancers at FFDM and SFM. Interval breast cancers are those cancers that are detected or within one year after a mammographic screening with normal findings.


The study looked at 138 cases of interval breast cancer, 62 of which followed SFM screening, and 76 followed FFDM screening. The prior screening mammograms were assessed, and reviewed by radiologists, and were classified into one of four categories. The results of the study showed no significant difference between cancers classified as missed, however there were significantly less interval cancers presenting as microcalcifications following FFDM screening (16%) compared with SFM screening (32%). The results also indicated that the digitization of mammography screening programs with FFDM resulted in a reduction in the number of interval cancers presenting together with microcalcifications.

Related Links:
Irish National Breast Screening program
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital