New research published in Clinical Imaging suggests that imaging is unnecessary for patients who experience isolated breast pain and have a normal clinical examination. This study analyzed NHS data from nearly 7,000 patients over five years and found that mammography detected cancer in less than 1% of cases with isolated breast pain. The findings indicate that such imaging has little value, with a cancer detection rate of only 0.6%, lower than the 0.7% reported in the U.K. National Breast Cancer Screening Program. The authors recommend avoiding low-yield imaging to reduce healthcare costs and alleviate the strain on diagnostic pathways, as unnecessary investigations estimated to cost over $954,000 over five years contribute to increased waiting times and resource congestion in breast clinics.
Mon, 24 Aug 2026 04:15:42 GMT | Radiology Business