Detects calcification: CAD increases Ca discovery with mammography.(Gynecology)

MIAMI BEACH -- A second interpretation of mammograms with computer-aided detection increased the cancer detection rate by 5% in a study of 4,341 consecutive screening mammograms.

Patients were more likely to be called back for additional imaging when computer-aided detection (CAD) was used (13.4% vs. 11.5%), but this difference was not statistically significant, Dr. Priscilla Slanetz reported during the annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society.

According to published reports, second readings of mammograms by physicians result in the discovery of 5%-15% more cancers than on the initial reading, said Dr. Slanetz, director of breast imaging at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston.

CAD may prove especially useful, given the decreasing number of clinicians trained to do mammography and the expected increase in demand for mammography as baby boomers age. An increase in lawsuits related to mammography is at least partially responsible for the decreased number of clinicians who want to image ...