Classification System Helps Reduce "Probably Benign"... -
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Published on: 4/26/2004
Last Visited: 5/31/2005
These values represent a considerable improvement over those reported elsewhere for conventional interpretation, said study author Shalom S. Buchbinder, M.D., of Staten Island University Hospital in Staten Island, N.Y. "The CAC system did not simply upgrade all category 3 lesions, but, instead, it successfully identified almost all of the malignant lesions and thereby eliminated the delay in their diagnosis."The study appeared in the March issue of Radiology
Dr. Buchbinder suggested that the CAC system might help limit the use of the "probably benign" category.
A substantial shift away from the ambiguous category 3 to other, definitive assessment categories would streamline screening mammography and reduce the number of close interval follow-up examinations, he said."This may further increase the use and acceptance of screening mammography and ultimately improve overall patient care."
The percentage of mammograms assigned to category 3 varies among radiologists from 1.4 percent to 14 percent, according to Dr. Buchbinder.
The extent of variation indicates that this category is not used in a similar manner by all radiologists, he said.