Can radiographers read screening mammograms?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of radiographers to read screening mammograms in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP).


METHODS
Two radiographers read a test set of 1000 screening mammograms previously reported by a consultant radiologist. Three radiographers then acted as a second reader for 54,000 screening mammograms, their recall results are presented. Four consultant radiologists and three film reading radiographers were timed while reading 2500 mammograms each.


RESULTS
When reading the test mammograms the two radiographers recalled all the cancers previously detected by the radiologist at the original screen read. They also recalled 32/90 women who subsequently presented with interval cancers. As a second reader the radiographers had similar recall and cancer detection rates to the radiologists (P>0.05). Double reading detected 9% more cancers. The radiographers take the same length of time to film read as radiologists (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Radiographers are able to read screening mammograms at least as well as radiologists and do not take longer to do so.
Wivell
G
G
Breast Imaging Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Norwich, Norfolk, U.K.
Denton
E R E
ER
Eve
C B
CB
Inglis
J C
JC
Harvey
I
I
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000592:standards*