Predictive Value of Suspicious Findings in Standard Mammography according to Local Compression Mammography Results

By evaluating 47 performed standard mammographies, we found four pathologies including mass, calcification, asymmetric density, and distortion. Positive predictive value (PPV) of each finding was estimated according to local mammographic findings. In a cross-sectional, descriptive, analytic study, patients who referred to Seyed-al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2010, for standard mammography were included if they agreed to undergo a local compression view as well. Suspicious findings in the standard mammograms were compared with local compression results. During four months, 693 mammographies were performed. In 63 cases, local compression view was requested. However, only 47 cases accepted to undergo the test. In standard mammography reports, asymmetries (70%) were the most and distortion was the least reported finding. The highest PPV belonged to mass (62%) and the lowest to distortion. As a whole, PPV was 29% for suspicious standard mammographic findings. Decreasing requests for local compression, especially for asymmetries is recommended.