NIJMEGEN, Netherlands, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Viewing prior mammograms in association with current mammograms improves radiologist performance and may decrease recalls, according to a Dutch study.
On average, additional information obtained from the prior mammograms led to better decisions with radiologists marking 44 percent fewer non-malignant findings as suspicious, resulting in a corresponding reduction in recall rates for women to have additional tests, according to the study's lead author, Antonius A. J. Roelofs of Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands.
"Prior mammograms should always be used when available," said Roelofs. "Limiting the availability of prior mammograms to cases selected by the reading radiologist appears to significantly reduce the beneficial effect shown when using prior mammograms in all possible cases."
Eighty mammograms were obtained from women in whom breast cancer was diagnosed later. The other 80 mammograms had been reported as normal or benign. All cancers were visible in retrospect.
The results showed that without prior mammograms, many more suspicious findings were noted. Reading performance was significantly better when prior screening mammograms were available, according to the study published in the January issue of Radiology.
