Comparison of image acquisition and radiologist interpretation times in a diagnostic mammography center.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the acquisition and interpretation times of screen-film mammography and soft-copy digital mammography in a diagnostic mammography center.


METHODS
The study was conducted in three phases for patients presenting for clinical diagnostic workup to a mammography clinic. In the first phase, technologist acquisition and processing times and radiologist interpretation time were measured for patients imaged with a screen-film mammographic system. During the second phase of the study, times were measured for patients imaged with a direct radiographic digital mammographic system, with interpretation performed on a soft-copy display system. During the third phase, 3 months after installation of the soft-copy display system, times were measured again for patients imaged on the same direct radiographic digital mammographic system, with interpretation with the same soft-copy system. The same four experienced breast imaging radiologists and seven technologists participated in all phases of the study. All data were entered into a database, and statistical analysis was conducted using weighted linear models and logarithmic transformation.


RESULTS
Times were obtained for 295 patients. There were 100 patients each for phases 1 and 2 and 95 patients for phase 3. Diagnostic mammographic acquisition times with processing were 13.02 min/case for screen film (phase 1), 8.16 min/case for digital (phase 2), and 10.66 min/case for digital (phase 3) (P < .001 and P < .0001, respectively). In addition, the radiologist interpretation time for digital mammography in both phases was not significantly different from that for film mammography (P = .2853 and P = .2893, respectively). There was no significant difference between phases 2 and 3 (P = 1.0000). The mean interpretation times were 3.75 min/case for screen film, 2.14 min/case for digital (phase 2), and 2.26 min/case for digital (phase 3).


CONCLUSIONS
Digital mammography significantly shortened the acquisition time for diagnostic mammography. There was no significant difference in interpretation time compared to screen-film mammography in a diagnostic mammography setting.
Kuzmiak
Cherie M
CM
Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510, USA. cherie_kuzmiak@med.unc.edu
Cole
Elodia
E
Zeng
Donglin
D
Kim
Eunhee
E
Koomen
Marcia
M
Lee
Yeonhee
Y
Pavic
Dag
D
Pisano
Etta D
ED
D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009657:North Carolina; D015588:Observer Variation; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D057188:Workflow; D014962:X-Ray Film / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*