Survey finds widespread acceptance of mammography CAD

The utilization of computer-aided detection (CAD) technology in mammography has grown rapidly since 2004, according to research from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Seeking to determine the extent of CAD use, a university research team studied the nationwide Medicare Part B fee-for-service database from 2004 to 2007, selecting the current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for screening and diagnostic mammography (digital and film-screen) and the CAD add-on codes.

The researchers found that CAD was used in almost 67% of all screening mammograms by 2007 and in 42% of all diagnostic mammograms. Private offices were a little more likely to utilize CAD than hospitals and more often used it for screening mammograms than diagnostic mammograms.

"Despite the controversy [over the use of CAD], the trend indicates that CAD has been embraced by radiologists," said presenter Dr. Vijay Rao.