False positive mammograms linked to slight cancer risk increase

Women who have abnormal mammogram results may be at increased risk for developing breast cancer even when follow-up tests fail to detect tumors, a U.S. study finds.

Typically, if there is a suspicious area on a mammogram, women get additional imaging to rule out cancer, followed by a biopsy if more information is still needed to determine if the suspect cells are malignant. When the extra tests don’t find cancer, the mammogram result is considered a “false positive.”

After a false positive mammogram, the added absolute cancer risk over a 10-year period isn’t that much . . .