title: Effect on sensitivity and specificity of mammography screening with or without comparison of old mammograms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of old mammograms on the specificity and sensitivity of radiologists in mammography screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty sets of screening mammograms were examined by 3 experienced screeners twice: once without and once in comparison with older mammograms. The films came from a population-based screening done during the first half of 1994 and comprised all 35 cancers detected during screening in 1994, 12/24 interval cancers, 14/34 cancers detected in the following screening and 89 normal mammograms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Without old mammograms, the screeners detected an average of 40.3 cancers (range 37-42), with a specificity of 87% (85-88%). With old mammograms, the screeners detected 37.7 cancers (range 34-42) with a specificity of 96% (94-99%). The change in detection rate was not significant. However, the increase in specificity was significant for each screener (p = 0.0002-0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mammography screening with old mammograms available for comparison decreased the false-positive recall rate. The effect on sensitivity, however, was unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Radiology and Clinical Immunology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Thurfjell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vitak
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azavedo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Svane
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thurfjell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity