Trina M. Whittaker MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hamid R. Tahmasebpour, Abstract Co-Author: Director, IMUA Technology, Inc Director, Digital Orientation Resolutions Inc

Ian Cameron Gardiner MD, FRCPC, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, IMUA Technology, Inc Stockholder, IMUA Technology, Inc

Audrey Spielman MD, FRCPC, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bruce B. Forster MD, Abstract Co-Author: Medical Director, Canada Diagnostic Centres

To prospectively quantify the clinical utility of ACR-BIRADS® compatible structured reporting (SR) software for breast ultrasound (US), measuring outcomes of accuracy, clarity, consistency, and efficiency, compared to traditional free-text (FT) reports.  

1) Breast US images were selected from the ACR BI-RADS® ATLAS:           A: normal           B: simple cyst           C: complex benign mass           D: fibroadenoma           E: infiltrating ductal carcinoma A hypothetical history and prior report were created for each case. The 24 recruited sonographers created a FT report for one of the ‘unknown’ above cases, using their own worksheets. A second report was generated using BI-RADS® compatible SR software program, DigiProMan®. A total of 50 cases, ten of each of the 5 cases A-E, were produced. 2) Five radiologists reviewed 10 cases A-E, including the hypothetical histories, prior reports, images and the sonographer’s FT and SR's. They compared and rated the reports, using the 5-point Likert scale, for parameters of clarity, accuracy and consistency. The radiologist also stated their preference for FT or SR. 3) Lastly, efficiency, the time interval from dictation of the FT report to distribution was compared to the immediate electronic distribution of the SR. Time intervals for breast US reports, not including those involving procedures, were collected.  

1) Using the Wilcoxon signed-ranked test, subtracting “null” cases (where both reports scored “3” on the Likert scale), the SR was preferred in all parameters of clarity, accuracy and consistency with significant P-values, as follows: Clarity - 28 SR vs. 6 FT reports, P-value 0.0001 Accuracy - 25 SR vs. 6 FT reports, P-value 0.0007 Consistency - 19 SR vs. 6 FT reports, P-value 0.0084 2) Efficiency - on average a FT report took 3.7 days from dictation to distribution, compared to immediate electronic distribution of the SR.  

Structured reporting using BI-RADS® compatible software significantly increases the accuracy, clarity, consistency and efficiency of breast ultrasound reporting. We reason that improved communication will benefit patient care and management.  

Structured reporting in breast ultrasound is superior compared to free text, and is recommended to improve accuracy, clarity, consistency and efficency of reporting.  

Whittaker, T, Tahmasebpour, H, Gardiner, I, Spielman, A, Forster, B, The Accuracy, Clarity, Consistency, and Efficiency of Structured Reporting of Breast Ultrasonography Using Computer Software Compared with Free-Text Reporting.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8013946.html