Mammography outcomes in a practice setting by age: prognostic factors, sensitivity, and positive biopsy rate.

The separate unplanned analysis of women ages 40-49 in population-based randomized controlled trials has resulted in demonstration of statistically significant breast cancer mortality reduction due to screening mammography in only two of the individual trials, and in all such trials only through meta-analysis. Therefore, many researchers have utilized the surrogate endpoints of tumor size and axillary lymph node status to evaluate screening efficacy. For the present study, these endpoints were evaluated in an audit of 854 screen-detected cancers found in 147,125 mammographic examinations performed in women over 40 between 1988 and 1994 in a community practice setting.

Improvement in mammography interpretation skills in a community radiology practice after dedicated teaching courses: 2-year medical audit of 38,633 cases.

The authors conducted a complete audit of results of 38,633 mammographic examinations performed by 12 general radiologists during a 2-year period with a computerized reporting system. During this period, 11 group members attended 17 dedicated mammography courses. Audit results were analyzed for each radiologist and the entire group.

Long injection time and biplane oblique patient positioning in femoral arteriography.

We have made several important changes in femoral arteriography, including a slower rate, longer injection time, and the use of biplane oblique views. The long injection time has resulted in fewer repeat examinations. Biplane oblique filming of the pelvis has increased our ability to demonstrate stenoses and abnormalities, although it has not significantly increased the information content of the studies.