title: Prescreening mammography by technologists: a preliminary assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the ability of technologists to accurately classify screening mammograms as either showing negative findings or requiring follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 33 technologists at a central facility and five satellite breast imaging facilities recorded whether mammograms obtained during 3019 examinations showed negative findings or findings that indicated that additional procedures were required. The technologists were not specifically trained for the experiment. The technologists' interpretations were compared with radiologists' interpretations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technologists and radiologists agreed in 82% of the cases (77% negative findings and 5% requiring follow-up). Of the 175 cases recommended for follow-up by only the radiologists, 17 were ultimately biopsied and two were found to be malignant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even without undergoing additional training, technologists can perform at reasonable levels of accuracy in classifying screening mammograms. The possibility of using technologists to group cases after the technologists have undergone training is an interesting concept that should be explored further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Hospital, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Jules H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sumkin
authors.forename: Herta M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Klaman
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruskauff
authors.forename: Rose C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gennari
authors.forename: Jill L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Klym
authors.forename: Marie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ganott
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gur
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D015588:Observer Variation; D011361:Professional Competence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011871:Radiology