title: Reducing Costs of Breast Examination: Ultrasound Performance and Inter-Observer Variability of Expert Radiologists Versus Residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare efficiency levels between radiologist and radiology resident and any significant or clinically relevant differences in breast ultrasound diagnosis, thus reducing extra costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 patients attending for breast ultrasound were included. Each patient was examined by a radiologist, and subsequently by a resident of the radiology department. Both operators noted their findings and wrote a concluding report. Reports were compared for histological and biological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  100 female patients with a mean age about 49 years were examined. The proportions of correct diagnoses of lesions individuated by radiologist and resident were 26.90 > 13.71% (p-value = 10.7), i.e. the radiologist was more accurate in comparison to resident in the individuation of breast lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The radiologist was more accurate in comparison to radiology resident in the evaluation of breast pathology in ultrasonography diagnoses, and this could reduce cost and/or in-depth analysis.
authors.affiliation: a Radiology Department , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Grezia
authors.affiliation: a Radiology Department , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Somma
authors.affiliation: a Radiology Department , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: a Radiology Department , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reginelli
authors.affiliation: a Radiology Department , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cappabianca
authors.affiliation: a Radiology Department , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.affiliation: a Radiology Department , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010820:Physicians; D000072177:Radiologists; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Automated 3D ultrasonography; Breast ultrasound; Costs; Expert radiologist; Resident; Senology