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Research news
Cancer Care Ontario researchers examine the contribution of clinical breast examination to breast cancer screening
A new study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute addresses the controversy about whether adding clinical breast examination (CBE) to mammography improves the accuracy of breast screening. Anna M. Chiarelli, PhD, and colleagues in Population Studies and Surveillance at Cancer Care Ontario compared the accuracy of screening among centres that offered CBE with that of centres that offered mammography only. In total, the study was conducted among 290,230 women screened within the Ontario Breast Screening Program.
Overall, the study suggests more answers are needed on the role of CBE before definitive recommendations for or against its use can be made. While we wait for those answers, the data presented by Chiarelli et al suggests that CBE must be done well if it is to be done at all. They acknowledge that if the practice continues, the potential risks and costs will increase as a result of a higher rate of false positives and the anxiety associated with additional evaluations.
This research was supported by a grant from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Division.
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