Health
Accuracy of mammogram interpretation examined
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 13, 2005
To help breast imaging facilities determine how accurately they are interpreting mammograms, the Food and Drug Administration should require the facilities to collect additional data that can be used to better measure their staffs' performance, said a new report from the Institute of Medicine.
To prepare for the anticipated reauthorization of the Mammography Quality Standards Act in 2007, Congress asked the IOM to examine whether additional steps could be taken to improve the accuracy of mammography interpretation or to enhance regulatory oversight.
Although the technical quality of mammography has improved significantly since the MQSA was passed in 1992, questions remain about the quality of mammogram interpretation, which is subjective and difficult to measure, the report said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/06/13/hlbf0613.htm.
