Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Women don't appear to be getting the message about the "harms" of mammography screening, frets a new study we're covering this week in our Women's Imaging Community.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota surveyed more than 400 women on how much they knew about harms of breast screening such as overdiagnosis and overtreatment. They found that only about 17% were aware of overdiagnosis. What's more, very few women said that concerns about overdiagnosis would affect their decision to undergo mammography screening.
The authors of the study (who weren't breast care professionals) said the results were a sign of "entrenched" attitudes in favor of breast screening, and that more rigorous interventions are needed to "improve patient understanding" about overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
But mammography defender Dr. Daniel Kopans believes the study is a sign that the researchers and other mammography skeptics are promoting a "false premise" about the extent of overdiagnosis that is not being accepted by women. Read more by clicking here.
While you're in the community, be sure to click here for advice from noted breast radiologist Dr. Stamatia Destounis on clinical factors to consider when purchasing breast imaging equipment.
Reasons for repeat radiographs
How often do repeat radiographs really need to be repeated? Researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center asked this question in a new study in our Digital X-Ray Community.
They analyzed radiographs that had been repeated by radiologic technologists and found that many of the original x-rays were probably good enough to be interpreted by radiologists. Skipping retakes would save time and money, and it would also reduce patient exposure to radiation. Get the rest of the details by clicking here, or go to xray.auntminnie.com.
Right heart quantification
Finally, visit our Ultrasound Community for a new article on the proper methods for performing right heart quantification on echocardiography, contributed by the folks at accreditation and consulting firm CardioServ. The article is available by clicking here or going to ultrasound.auntminnie.com.
