Page 206 - Hospital Authority Convention 2017

Corporate Scholarship Presentations
HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2017

C3.2 Allied Health and Pharmacy 14:30 Room 428

Be a Mammographer Who Interprets Mammograms
Choi MNY
Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong
In the UK, some advanced practices are well established among radiographers. Mammographic image interpretation by
qualified radiographers has enabled the UK National Health Service (NHS) Breast Screening Programme to provide double
readings of mammograms as well as image interpretation for symptomatic patients since 2006.2,3,6 It has greatly improved
their clinical services to the benefit of both patients and referring doctors in the UK.1

Several studies showed that, double readings by radiographers improved cancer detection rate when compared with single
reading.1 Although the sensitivity of reading mammograms in a diagnostic setting is higher than in a screening setting (about
90%)5 with the use of additional diagnostic examinations, the risk of missing malignant lesions still exists. Therefore, pre-
reading mammograms by a radiographer will most probably increase the sensitivity of the detection of malignancies in a
diagnostic setting. In the Netherlands, about 70% of the patients receiving a mammogram in the hospital with either negative
or clearly benign findings, are discharged without further evaluation. 5

Attending systematic training programme is required before being qualified as a “first read” or “double read” radiographer
in interpreting mammography. The trained mammographer can achieve a high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of
malignancy and the ability to distinguish a benign condition, and also has the autonomy in deciding any additional views of
mammography to provide further information for diagnosis.
In this presentation, the journey of how the author achieved her wish in becoming a qualified mammographer recognised by
the UK through the corporate scholarship programme will be shared. Her achievements and contributions such as further
developing mammographer trainees at the Prince of Wales Hospital will also be shared.

References
The Society and College of Radiographers. Medical image interpretation by radiographers - definitive guidance. London;
2010.
NHS Cancer Screening Program. Advisory committee on breast cancer screening. Screening for breast cancer in England:
past and future; 2006.
Moran S, Warren-Forward H. A retrospective study of the performance of radiographers in interpreting screening
mammograms. Radiography 2011; 17:126-31.
Holt JJ, Pollard K. Radiographers’ ability to perceive and classify abnormalities on mammographic images - results of a pilot
project. The Radiographer 2010; 57:8-14
Flobbe K, Bosch AM, Kessels AG, et al. The additional diagnostic value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
Arch Intern Med 2003; 163:1194 – 9.
Judith Kelly, Peter Hogg, Suzanne Henwood. The role of a consultant breast radiographer: A description and a reflection
Radiography 2008; 14, 2-10
Wednesday, 17 May

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