Cherie Marie Kuzmiak DO, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Elodia Berdene Cole MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Donglin Zeng PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eunhee Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marcia Anne Koomen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yeonhee Lee MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dag Pavic MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Etta D. Pisano MD, Abstract Co-Author: Institutional research agreement, General Electric Company Institutional contract, Konica Minolta Group Institutional contract, VuCOMP, Inc Institutional contract, Real Imaging Institutional contract, Sectra AB

00030490-DMT et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of our study was to determine the acquisition and interpretation times of screen-film mammography and soft-copy digital mammography in a diagnostic mammography center.  

The study was conducted in three phases for patients presenting for clinical diagnostic work-up to our mammography clinic. In the first phase, we measured technologist acquisition and processing times and radiologist interpretation time for patients imaged with a screen-film mammography system. During the second phase of the study, times were measured for patients imaged with a direct radiography (DR) digital mammography system with interpretation performed on a soft-copy display system. During Phase 3, three months after installation of the soft-copy display system, times were again measured for patients imaged on the same DR digital mammography system with interpretation with same soft-copy system. The same four experienced breast imaging radiologists and seven technologists participated in all phases of the study. All of the data were entered into a database, and statistical analysis was conducted using weighted linear models and logarithm transformation.

Times were obtained for 295 patients in this IRB-approved study. There were 100 patients each for Phase 1 and Phase 2. Only 95 patients were recruited to Phase 3 since the enrollment time had ended. Diagnostic mammography acquisition time with processing was 2.68 minutes/image for screen-film (Phase 1) and 1.55 minutes/image for digital (Phase 2) and 1.82 minutes/image for digital (Phase 3), (both p <.0001). In addition, the radiologist interpretation time for digital mammography in both phases was significantly less than for film mammography (p= 0.0024 and p= <0.0001, respectively). There was no significant difference between Phase 2 and Phase 3 (p-value 0.6029). The mean interpretation time was 1.17 minutes/image for screen-film mammography and 0.42 minutes/image for digital (Phase 2) and 0.43 minutes/image for digital (Phase 3).

Digital mammography significantly shortened the acquisition time for diagnostic mammography. There was no increase in interpretation time when compared to screen-film mammography in a diagnostic mammography setting.

In a diagnostic setting, digital mammography using soft-copy display shortened acquisition time and did not increase interpretation time compared to screen-film mammography.

Kuzmiak, C, Cole, E, Zeng, D, Kim, E, Koomen, M, Lee, Y, Pavic, D, Pisano, E, et al, 0, Comparison of Image Acquisition and Radiologist Interpretation Times in a Diagnostic Mammography Center.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8000759.html