SPOTTY MEDICINE:

Accuracy of highly touted mammogram exam system in doubt (Gina Kolata, April 4, 2007, NY Times)

A highly touted and widely used computerized system for examining mammograms is leading to less accuracy, not more, a new study finds.

Computer software programs, known as computer-aided detection, or CAD, did not find more breast cancer, researchers reported Wednesday. But they did lead to many more false alarms that resulted in additional testing and biopsies for spots on a mammogram that turned out to be harmless.