How long does it take to read a mammogram? Investigating the reading time of digital breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography
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Author
J W Partridge, GeorgeDarker, Iain
J James, Jonathan
Satchithananda, Keshthra
Sharma, Nisha
Valencia, Alexandra
Teh, William
Khan, Humaira
Muscat, Elizabeth
J Michell, Michael
Chen, Yan
Affiliation
University of Nottingham; Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust; King's College Hospital; Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; et al.Publication date
2024-05-29Subject
Radiology
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Purpose: To analyse digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) reading times in the screening setting, compared to 2D full-field digital mammography (FFDM), and investigate the impact of reader experience and professional group on interpretation times. Method: Reading time data were recorded in the PROSPECTS Trial, a prospective randomised trial comparing DBT plus FFDM or synthetic 2D mammography (S2D) to FFDM alone, in the National Health Service (NHS) breast screening programme, from January 2019-February 2023. Time to read DBT+FFDM or DBT+S2D and FFDM alone was calculated per case and reading times were compared between modalities using dependent T-tests. Reading times were compared between readers from different professional groups (radiologists and radiographer readers) and experience levels using independent T-tests. The learning curve effect of using DBT in screening on reading time was investigated using a Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Forty-eight readers interpreted 1,242 FFDM batches (34,210 FFDM cases) and 973 DBT batches (13,983 DBT cases). DBT reading time was doubled compared to FFDM (2.09 ± 0.64 min vs. 0.98 ± 0.30 min; p < 0.001), and DBT+S2D reading was longer than DBT + FFDM (2.24 ± 0.62 min vs. 2.04 ± 0.46 min; p = 0.006). No difference was identified in reading time between radiologists and radiographers (2.06 ± 0.71 min vs. 2.14 ± 0.46 min, respectively; p = 0.71). Readers with five or more years of experience reading DBT were quicker than those with less experience (1.86 ± 0.56 min vs. 2.37 ± 0.65 min; p = 0.008), and DBT reading time decreased after less than 9 months accrued screening experience (p = 0.01). Conclusions: DBT reading times were double those of FFDM in the screening setting, but there was a short learning curve effect with readers showing significant improvements in reading times within the first nine months of DBT experience.Citation
W Partridge G, Darker I, J James J, Satchithananda K, Sharma N, Valencia A, Teh W, Khan H, Muscat E, J Michell M, Chen Y. How long does it take to read a mammogram? Investigating the reading time of digital breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography. Eur J Radiol. 2024 May 29;177:111535. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111535Type
ArticlePMID
38852330Journal
European Journal of RadiologyPublisher
Elsevierae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111535