Computers Detect Breast Cancer
Reported October 20, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — New research shows when a computer-aided detection system is used in breast cancer screening, it detects cancer as effectively — if not with more precision — as an additional radiologist.
Research has shown mammography reading by two medical experts is more sensitive at detecting cancer than reading by one expert. A new study shows when a single reader is assisted by a computer-based detection system, results are similar to those from two readers.
Experts randomly assigned women undergoing routine screening by film mammography to three groups. Women in one group received a double reading, women in another received a single reading with computer-aided detection, and women in a third group received both a double reading and computer-assisted reading.
The sensitivity, specificity and rate of precision for single reading enhanced by a computer were shown to be 87.2 percent, 96.9 percent and 18 percent, respectively. For double reading, sensitivity was 87.7 percent, specificity was 97.4 percent and precision rate was 21.1 percent. Among those screened by computer-enhanced single readings, 3.9 percent were called back for further testing, and among those screened by two readers, 3.4 were called back.
Authors conclude single reading combined with computer-aided detection could be a safe alternative to double reading.
Computer-aided detection systems are used in 25 to 30 percent of all mammogram readings in the United States.
SOURCE: New England Journal of Medicine, 2008;359:1675-1684
