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The effect of Premium View post-processing software on digital mammographic reporting

Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK

Correspondence: Emma Goldstraw, Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust, Homerton Row, London E9 6SR, UK. E-mail: egoldstraw{at}gmail.com

The aim of this study was to identify the effect of the installation of Premium View post-processing software on our mammographic reporting performance, in particular the effects on our recall rate, biopsy rate and cancer detection rate. The case notes and imaging of all patients discussed at the weekly indeterminate imaging multidisciplinary team meeting were reviewed retrospectively before, immediately after and at a delayed interval following the installation of Premium View post-processing software. Factors recorded included the mammographic abnormality, further investigations and final histology. The indeterminate mammogram rate increased significantly from a baseline of 5.7% (before Premium View) to 8.7% in the time period immediately after the installation of Premium View (p _ 0.002). The stereotactic biopsy rate also increased from 0.8% to 2.4% (p _ 0.001), with a significant increase in the overall cancer detection rate from 3.4% to 4.4% (p _ 0.02). In the follow-up period several months after the installation of Premium View, the indeterminate mammogram rate returned to a level similar to that before Premium View (6%; p _ 0.7). The stereotactic biopsy rate remained significantly higher at 1.6% (p _ 0.07), as did the overall cancer detection rate of 5.0% (p _ 0.003). In conclusion, the use of Premium View may lead to higher cancer detection rates, at the expense of an initial increase in recall rate. Although prospective studies are suggested, this result is of interest in light of the proposed installation of digital mammography across the NHS Breast Screening Programme.