Varying performance in mammographic interpretation across two countries:  Do results indicate reader or population variances?

BaoLin P. Soh; Warwick B. Lee; Jill Wong; Llewellyn Sim; Stephen L. Hillis; Kriscia A. Tapia; Patrick C. Brennan

doi:10.1117/12.2217654

24 March 2016 Varying performance in mammographic interpretation across two countries: Do results indicate reader or population variances?

BaoLin P. Soh, Warwick B. Lee, Jill Wong, Llewellyn Sim, Stephen L. Hillis, Kriscia A. Tapia, Patrick C. Brennan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9787, Medical Imaging 2016: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment; 97870X (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2217654
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2016, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Aim: To compare the performance of Australian and Singapore breast readers interpreting a single test-set that consisted of mammographic examinations collected from the Australian population. Background: In the teleradiology era, breast readers are interpreting mammographic examinations from different populations. The question arises whether two groups of readers with similar training backgrounds, demonstrate the same level of performance when presented with a population familiar only to one of the groups. Methods: Fifty-three Australian and 15 Singaporean breast radiologists participated in this study. All radiologists were trained in mammogram interpretation and had a median of 9 and 15 years of experience in reading mammograms respectively. Each reader interpreted the same BREAST test-set consisting of sixty de-identified mammographic examinations arising from an Australian population. Performance parameters including JAFROC, ROC, case sensitivity as well as specificity were compared between Australian and Singaporean readers using a Mann Whitney U test. Results: A significant difference (P=0.036) was demonstrated between the JAFROC scores of the Australian and Singaporean breast radiologists. No other significant differences were observed. Conclusion: JAFROC scores for Australian radiologists were higher than those obtained by the Singaporean counterparts. Whilst it is tempting to suggest this is down to reader expertise, this may be a simplistic explanation considering the very similar training and audit backgrounds of the two populations of radiologists. The influence of reading images that are different from those that radiologists normally encounter cannot be ruled out and requires further investigation, particularly in the light of increasing international outsourcing of radiologic reporting.

Citation Download Citation

BaoLin P. Soh, Warwick B. Lee, Jill Wong, Llewellyn Sim, Stephen L. Hillis, Kriscia A. Tapia, and Patrick C. Brennan "Varying performance in mammographic interpretation across two countries: Do results indicate reader or population variances?", Proc. SPIE 9787, Medical Imaging 2016: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment, 97870X (24 March 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2217654

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available