Reducing Costs of Breast Examination: Ultrasound Performance and Inter-Observer Variability of Expert Radiologists Versus Residents

ABSTRACT

Aim: To compare efficiency levels between radiologist and radiology resident and any significant or clinically relevant differences in breast ultrasound diagnosis, thus reducing extra costs. Material and methods: 100 patients attending for breast ultrasound were included. Each patient was examined by a radiologist, and subsequently by a resident of the radiology department. Both operators noted their findings and wrote a concluding report. Reports were compared for histological and biological analysis. Results: 100 female patients with a mean age about 49 years were examined. The proportions of correct diagnoses of lesions individuated by radiologist and resident were 26.90 > 13.71% (p-value = 10.7), i.e. the radiologist was more accurate in comparison to resident in the individuation of breast lesions. Conclusions: The radiologist was more accurate in comparison to radiology resident in the evaluation of breast pathology in ultrasonography diagnoses, and this could reduce cost and/or in-depth analysis.

KEYWORDS:

• Senology
• Breast ultrasound
• Resident
• Expert radiologist
• Automated 3D ultrasonography
• Costs

Acknowledgment

Thanks to Silvia Losco for language revision of the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.