Mammographic test sets are a simulation-based training methodology for radiologists to assess and improve their performance. However, while test-set records have indicated over-time improvements in participants' performance within the tests, little is known about how those improvements translate into breast-screening readers’ performance in the clinic. This study investigated how the performance of readers who completed test-set training in the BreastScreen Reader Assessment Strategy (BREAST) platform have evolved in comparison to readers who have no history of test-set participation. Investigating 10-year clinical audit data of 46 breast screening readers in New South Wales, Australia indicated that BREAST readers improved their positive predictive value (PPV) (p=0.001) in association with their testset participation. They also had higher detection rates for invasive cancers (p=0.01), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (p=0.03), and the detection rate of all cancers and DCIS (p=0.01). In comparison, non-BREAST readers improved their recall rate in subsequent screens (p=0.03) and PPV (p=0.02). In conclusion, test-set participation is linked to enhanced capability of cancer detection, which can be due to the high proportion of cancer cases in the test sets in comparison to normal practice.
Mammographic test sets are a prominent form of quality assurance in breast screening and they have been associated in the lab with positive changes in radiologists’ performance. Focusing on this educational value, we examined the clinical audit history of 19 participants in the BreastScreen Reader Assessment Strategy (BREAST) test sets to investigate if changes in clinical performance reflected test-set participation. Included participants were radiologists who have read for BreastScreen New South Wales (NSW) in the period between 2010 and 2018 and who read on average 2000 cases or more in those years. Their audit data included 2 years before and 2 years after test-set participation. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests were used to investigate the difference in recall rates, cancer detection rates, and positive predictive value (PPV) for the cohort before and after testset participation. The data indicated that, over time, radiologists have significantly improved recall rate (screening rounds 2+), PPV, and the detection of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Those results suggest that breast screen readers who participate with test-set readings improve their clinical performance.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.