Lumarie Santiago, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Tamara Miner Haygood MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gary Jacob Whitman MD, Abstract Co-Author: Stockholder, General Electric Company

Edward Neely Atkinson PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

William Robert Geiser MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the technical recall rate of film screen and digital screening mammography and influence of the presence or absence of prior studies.

Retrospective review of 198 film screen (FSM) and 211 digital (DM) recalled bilateral screening mammograms of patients without breast implants following institutional review board approval. The mammograms were interpreted in batches after patients had left the imaging area. Each exam was interpreted by one of twelve radiologists. Final outcomes were determined by biopsy or follow up studies including mammography and/or ultrasound at 6 months or greater if available.

Twenty four (12.1%) recalled FSM’s were interpreted without prior films and 174 (87.9%) were interpreted with priors. The three most common recall reasons for FSM interpreted with and without priors were mass/masses, technical and calcifications. Technical recalls comprised 28.8% (57/198). One hundred and forty nine (70.3%) recalled DM’s were interpreted without prior films and 63 (29.7%) were interpreted with priors. The three most common recall reasons for DM interpreted with and without priors were mass/masses, calcifications and focal asymmetry. Technical recalls comprised 6.2 % (13/211). There was no significant difference in the technical recall rated within each modality regardless of the presence of prior films. There was a significantly lower technical recall rate for DM regardless of the presence of prior films when compared with FSM (P<0.001 with priors, P=0.04 without priors).

In our practice, DM had a significantly lower technical recall rate regardless of the presence of prior films.

Digital mammogrphy's lower technical recall rate may improve performance in screening mammography centers.

Santiago, L, Haygood, T, Whitman, G, Atkinson, E, Geiser, W, Technical Recall in Film Screen and Digital Screening Mammography.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5002588.html