Ana P. Lourenco MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Jason Rothschild BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Martha Beretta Mainiero MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To determine if mammography recall rate for individual radiologists varies by imaging site.

Screening mammography annual audit data was retrospectively reviewed for 5 radiologists with expertise in breast imaging reading at a community office practice and at a tertiary care hospital from 5/1/2008 to 9/1/2011. The study did not involve human subjects or identifying patient information and was exempted from IRB review. At both sites, full field digital mammography was performed and interpreted in batch screening sessions. Recall rate for each radiologist at each site was obtained from audit data, and compared between the two sites using paired t-test and two sample test of proportion.

The 5 radiologists interpreted a total of 73,297 screening mammograms at both sites during the study period. (36,606 at the community based site and 36,691 at the tertiary hospital). Total patients recalled at both sites was 5,799 with an overall recall rate of 7.9% (range 5.2%-10.3%). Overall recall rate for the community site was 6.9% and for the hospital was 8.9% (p=0.002). Recall rates for each radiologist were lower at the community site than at the hospital: 3.7% vs 6.5% (p<0.001); 9.6% vs 12.0% (p<0.001); 7.5% vs 9.1% (p=0.01); 7.6% vs 11.5% (p<0.001); 5.6% vs 8.0% (p=0.02).

Recall rates were higher in the hospital setting than the community office setting for each radiologist, likely due to patient factors. This information is important to consider when comparing recall rates between practices and raises questions about using recall rate as a pay for performance measure.

Mammography recall rates for individual readers can vary by site, raising questions about the use of recall rates as a pay for performance measure.

Lourenco, A, Rothschild, J, Mainiero, M, Mammography Recall Rate: Does Practice Site Matter?.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12026973.html