A 3-year audit of radiographer screen film reading

A team of five radiographers assists with film reading in our large combined screening and symptomatic breast unit. The first were trained in 1999, and now have 5 years experience. For the last 3 years their screen reading performance has been intensively audited.

Film reading numbers have ranged from 4.8 to 11,000/year. Cancer detection rates average 6/1000, with the best radiographer achieving 7/1000. Recall rates are kept low by consensus review of all recalls, less than 5%.

Film reading performance in real life does reflect the 'PERFORMS' score.

Lobular cancers are more likely to be missed by new film readers and are disproportionately over-represented in the 'minority report' cancers detected.

In conclusion, radiographers perform as well as average breast-screening radiologists after 3 years supervised experience.