Value of selective second-look sonography by radiologists.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the usefulness of sonography performed by radiologists after a review of the sonographer's findings.


METHODS
A total of 398 sonograms were obtained in 392 patients. Sonographers presented preliminary images and impressions to radiologists, who performed additional imaging and recorded their conclusions. Radiologists also attempted to predict in which cases their scan was likely to show new findings or to refute the sonographer's findings. Follow-up data were obtained whenever the sonographer's and the radiologist's findings disagreed.


RESULTS
In 28 cases, the radiologist made important new findings. Positive initial findings were refuted in 24 cases. Discrepant findings were seen in 22% of cases in which additional scanning was predicted to be beneficial, compared with only 6% of cases in which second-look sonography was predicted not to be of value. This difference was statistically significant (P<.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Second-look sonography by radiologists provides a valuable check of the sonographer's findings.
Tessler
F N
FN
Department of Radiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
Tublin
M E
ME
Peters
J C
JC
Jie
T
T
Peters
T L
TL
D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011871:Radiology; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data