Comparison of the diagnostic workup of women referred at non-blinded or blinded double reading in a population-based screening mammography programme in the south of the Netherlands.
BACKGROUND
To determine whether referred women experience differences in diagnostic workup at non-blinded or blinded double reading of screening mammograms.


METHODS
We included a consecutive series of respectively 42.996 and 44.491 screens, double read either in a non-blinded or blinded manner between 2009 and 2011. This reading strategy was alternated on a monthly basis.


RESULTS
The overall ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) rate and stereotactic CNB (SCNB) rate per 1000 screens were higher at blinded than at non-blinded reading (7.5 vs 6.0, P=0.008 and 8.1 vs 6.6, P=0.009). Among women with benign workup, these rates were higher at blinded reading (2.6 vs 1.4, P<0.001 and 5.9 vs 4.7, P=0.013). The benign biopsy rates were higher at blinded double reading (P<0.001), whereas the positive predictive value of biopsy did not differ (P=0.103).


CONCLUSIONS
Blinded double-reading results in higher overall CNB and SCNB rates than non-blinded double reading, as well as a higher benign biopsy rate.
Department of Radiology, Catharina Hospital, PO Box 1350, 5602 ZA Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Roy J P
RJ
Weber
Department of Radiology, Catharina Hospital, PO Box 1350, 5602 ZA Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Elisabeth G
EG
Klompenhouwer
Department of Research, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), PO Box 231, 5600 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Adri C
AC
Voogd
Department of Surgery, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, PO Box 9015, 6500 GS Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Luc J A
LJ
Strobbe
National Expert and Training Centre for Breast Cancer Screening, PO Box 6873, 6503 GJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.|Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Mireille J M
MJ
Broeders
Department of Radiology, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, PO Box 9015, 6500 GS Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Lucien E M
LE
Duijm
D000368:Aged; D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands