Authors:
M. Maristany, F. Ferrer, X. Castells, J. Royo, J. Martinez, F. Macià, A. Solano, J. Sanchez, I. Vollmer; Barcelona/ES
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2008/C-138
Purpose
Breast cancer screening shows wide interobserver (radiologist) variability in the interpretation of screening mammograms.[1-3] This variability depends, among other factors, on the protocols for mammogram reading, the specific characteristics of each patient and breast and, to a large extent, on the radiologist’s experience. Radiologists have been observed to differ, sometimes substantially, both in their interpretations of mammograms and in their recommendations for follow-up. Therefore, variability in mammogram reading may adversely affect the quality of screening programs by affecting recall rates, which may be low (undetected tumors or diagnostic delay) or high (provoking anxiety in women, false positives, and increased costs).[4-6]
Attempts have been made to explain variability among radiologists by experience-related factors, such as annual reading volume.[7-11] However, few studies have analyzed in depth and integrated into a single analysis several possible predictive factors related to radiologists’ experience that could determine probable causes of the variability observed in mammogram interpretation (beyond annual reading volume) and that could help to improve the quality of screening programs.
The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which a series of experience-related factors affects the accuracy of mammogram readings.