DOUBLE READING MAMMOGRAMS

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of double reading mammograms in breast cancer screening: a systematic review

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the screening accuracy, patient outcomes, and costs of double reading versus single reading of mammograms for diagnosing breast cancer.

Findings

Double reading increases the cancer detection rate by between 3 and 11 per 10,000 women screened. The findings vary depending on the recall system used. Double reading may be most beneficial for the detection of small cancers and where two readers have different levels of experience or specialist strengths.

Conducted by: J Dinnes^2,1, S Moss³, J Melia³, R Blanks³, F Song^4,1, J Kleijnen¹

1. NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination; 2. Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, University of Southampton; 3. Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit, Institute of Cancer Research; 4. Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham

Publications

Dinnes J, Moss S, Melia J, Blanks R, Song F, Kleijnen J. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of double reading of mammograms in breast cancer screening: findings of a systematic review. Breast. 2001;10(6):455-63

Funding

Commissioned by the Department of Health