PURPOSE: To assess whether radiologic technologists could be successfully trained to identify abnormalities on mammograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight radiologic technologists from two different institutions took a pretest, underwent an 8-hour training course followed by a period of preceptorship, and then took a posttest. Seven radiologists also took the pretest and posttest, which consisted of evaluating 1,238 two-view screening examinations, including 318 biopsy-proved cancers. RESULTS: Overall, technologists at institution 1 had lower sensitivity (78%) at the pretest, which improved at the posttest (90%). Technologists at institution 2 had lower specificity at the pretest (44%), which improved on the posttest (64%). Hypothetical pairing of radiologists and technologists with use of posttest results revealed an increase in sensitivity (median increase, 12% at institution 1 and 19% at institution 2). CONCLUSION: Formalized training successfully modified the technologists' skills. Radiologic technologists could be used to increase the number of breast cancers detected at screening mammography.
PURPOSE: To assess whether radiologic technologists could be successfully trained to identify abnormalities on mammograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight radiologic technologists from two different institutions took a pretest, underwent an 8-hour training course followed by a period of preceptorship, and then took a posttest. Seven radiologists also took the pretest and posttest, which consisted of evaluating 1,238 two-view screening examinations, including 318 biopsy-proved cancers. RESULTS: Overall, technologists at institution 1 had lower sensitivity (78%) at the pretest, which improved at the posttest (90%). Technologists at institution 2 had lower specificity at the pretest (44%), which improved on the posttest (64%). Hypothetical pairing of radiologists and technologists with use of posttest results revealed an increase in sensitivity (median increase, 12% at institution 1 and 19% at institution 2). CONCLUSION: Formalized training successfully modified the technologists' skills. Radiologic technologists could be used to increase the number of breast cancers detected at screening mammography.
Authors: Louise M Henderson; Thad Benefield; Mary W Marsh; Bruce F Schroeder; Danielle D Durham; Bonnie C Yankaskas; J Michael Bowling Journal: Acad Radiol Date: 2014-11-27 Impact factor: 3.173
Authors: Gabriela Torres-Mejía; Robert A Smith; María de la Luz Carranza-Flores; Andy Bogart; Louis Martínez-Matsushita; Diana L Miglioretti; Karla Kerlikowske; Carolina Ortega-Olvera; Ernesto Montemayor-Varela; Angélica Angeles-Llerenas; Sergio Bautista-Arredondo; Gilberto Sánchez-González; Olga G Martínez-Montañez; Santos R Uscanga-Sánchez; Eduardo Lazcano-Ponce; Mauricio Hernández-Ávila Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2015-05-16 Impact factor: 4.430