1.   But unnecessary biopsies are not without consequences.

2.   Initial tests indicate the system might be able to eliminate half of unnecessary biopsies by correctly classifying tumors from the scans.

3.   Poorly done mammography can lead to a high percentage of unnecessary biopsies or missed tumors, he noted.

4.   That availability often spares patients from repetitious tests or unnecessary biopsies.

5.   A lower accuracy, said Esserman, meant that more patients had unnecessary biopsies of breast tissue and that more cancers went undetected.

6.   Falsely positive test results cause anxiety and lead to unnecessary biopsies.

7.   If it works, the device could have a significant impact in reducing unnecessary biopsies, its developers say.