For women over age 40, the annual mammogram is not high on the list of fun things to do, but is tolerated as a worthwhile effort for early detection of breast cancer or other health anomalies.

For thousands of Hawaii island patients, now comes word that a faulty machine was used at Hilo Women’s Imaging Center from June 30, 2014, to Aug. 24, 2015, affecting some 12,000 mammograms.

A partner in the center’s radiology parent firm was quick to minimize the problem, saying among other things, that misdiagnoses were unlikely, and that half of the patients have already had subsequent mammograms due to their age. Still, the center is reviewing results during the period in question.

Better to be safe than sorry.