False-negative breast cancer screenings—where cancer is present but not detected—are rising across the U.S., and Black women are disproportionately affected. A study analyzing over 38 million mammograms found that the rate of missed diagnoses in screening exams more than tripled between 2010 and 2022, climbing from 0.7 to 2.5 per 1,000 exams.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that patient and facility characteristics play a significant role in these missed detections. Among diagnostic exams, Black women had a higher likelihood of receiving a
false-negative result compared to white women, with an odds ratio of 1.12. In contrast, Asian, Hawaiian, and Hispanic women had lower odds.
The study also revealed that women with dense breast tissue, a personal or family history of breast cancer, and those screened at academic or university-based facilities were more likely to receive false-negative results. For diagnostic exams, women with a personal history of breast cancer had an odds ratio of 7.82—indicating a dramatically increased risk.
Researchers suggest that increased use of supplemental imaging, such as MRI or ultrasound, may be contributing to the trend, but the exact causes remain unclear. They emphasize the need for further studies to identify the drivers behind these disparities and improve quality assurance in breast cancer screening.
See: “False-negative breast exams on the rise” (October 22, 2025)
