Double reading in mammographic screening

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of double reading on routine screening mammography for the detection of breast cancer in a non-academic environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During one year, 22,024 screening mammograms of asymptomatic women were submitted to independent double reading by two radiologists specialized in breast imaginology. Data analyzed were the number of additional carcinomas found after a second reading and the absolute number of recalls on account of the second reading. RESULTS: Nine additional carcinomas were detected after the second reading: 55.5% were ductal carcinoma in situ and the remainder were ductal invasive carcinomas up to 1.5 cm. Our absolute recall rate generated by the double reading was only 1.8%, with a percentage of false-positive findings of 98%. CONCLUSION: Double reading increased cancer detection rate by 8.5% and all tumors detected were stage 0 or 1.