Objective To explore the value of digital mammography in diagnosis of the negative palpable breast cancer in rural ar-eas.Methods 6 754 women randomly selected among 13 700 female outpatients (range,30-83 years)in rural areas underwent dig-ital mammography no matter they had breast palpable masses or not.Results 72 cases with breast cancer were diagnosed by digital mammography (72/6 754).Clinical palpation showed positive in 59 cases (59/72)and negative in 13 cases (13/72)with aged 35-77 years.Among 13 cases with negative palpable breast cancer,6 cases were carcinomas in situ,3 cases were intraductal carcinomas,and 4 cases were infiltrating ductal carcinomas.Conclusion Digital mammography may help in detection of the negative palpable breast cancer in early time.