Maryellen Giger, PhD, and colleagues performed a reader survey combining x-ray mammography and ABUS for breast cancer detection in women with dense breasts. The study included 164 asymptomatic patients with dense breasts and a negative screening mammography exam, including 31 breast cancer patients.
Seventeen breast radiologists participated, of whom seven came from academic radiology practices, six from private practice, and four from community clinics. The radiologists first interpreted mammography alone and then read a combined study with mammography and ABUS, according to Giger's team.
The researchers found a modest but statistically significant increase in interreader agreement after ABUS images were added, and radiologists from academic practice seemed to benefit the most from ABUS interpretation.
