A technology widely used to help radiologists interpret mammograms failed to boost breast cancer detection rates and led to more false-positive diagnoses and biopsies, according to a large study by a researcher at the University of California, Davis released today.
The study is in contrast to previous findings on the imaging technology.
Computer-aided detection, CAD, approved in 1998 by the Food and Drug Administration, identifies suspicious findings on mammograms to assist radiologists in spotting breast cancer.
CAD has been adopted by about one-third of hospitals nationwide, including many in the Bay Area.
....After a radiologist takes an image of the breast tissue, or mammogram, the film is converted to a digital file and analyzed by the radiologist. Then the CAD marks the file, flagging possible trouble spots. The radiologist reviews the CAD marks and makes a final evaluation.
Because CAD typically makes a lot of marks on the mammogram, the radiologist reviewing the screen -- particularly one with less experience -- may be "a lot more likely to consider positives," Fenton said.
Source Article
No comments:
Post a Comment