Study: "Double Reading" of Mammograms Improves Breast Cancer Detection

Breast cancer detection rates can be increased by as much as ten percent if screening mammograms are read by more than one radiologist, according to researchers at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.

In a procedure called "consensus double reading," a screening mammogram is read by one radiologist and is then re-read by a second radiologist. If the two do not agree on their findings, a third radiologist is consulted to determine whether the mammogram is suspicious or not.

Researchers looked at 15,985 screening mammograms. A total of 2,110 women were recalled for additional tests, and biopsies confirmed 103 breast cancers. Consensus double reading detected 10 of the cancers, which increased the rate of detection by 9.7 percent, according to Dr. Susan Harvey, assistant professor of radiology and lead author of the study presented at the annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society. All of the cancers were at a very early stage.

The detection procedure saved 189 women from having to return for additional testing, reported Harvey.

Other Sources: American Roentgen Ray Society