Study: Not Enough Tests Ordered for Women Who Discover Lumps in Breasts

Doctors may be failing to order enough testing for women who have discovered lumps in their breasts, according to a Massachusetts Medical Society task force.

The group looked at 96 claims settled between 1994 and 1998 of women who had complained of delays in the treatment of their breast cancer.

It found that many of the women with suspicious lumps were under age 45 and had initial negative mammograms, leading their doctors in about one-quarter of the cases to conclude there was a "low index of suspicion" and no need for additional testing.

The task force also found that about half of the time, the primary care doctor did not discuss the contradictions between discovery of the lumps and woman's negative mammography results.

ProMutual Group, Massachusett's largest medical malpractice insurer, paid $12.5 million to patients to settle claims that doctors and nurses failed to diagnose breast cancer in 2000, compared to $4.4 million in 1995. Malpractice insurers across the country have reported similar increases.

The Massachusetts Medical Society task force was formed to figure out ways to improve care and reduce patient complaints.

Other sources: Boston Globe