The addition of Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) demonstrated increased interreader agreement when used in combination with mammography compared to mammography alone for women with dense breasts, according to a study published in the July 2013 issue of Academic Radiology.
Titled “Interreader Scoring Variability in an Observer Study Using Dual-Modality Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection in Women with Dense Breasts” the retrospective clinical reader study was designed to mimic the clinical use of ABUS as a potential adjunct screening modality in order to evaluate variability in radiologists and clinical assessment of breast images.
According to study authors Karen Drukker, Karla J. Horsch, Lorenzo L. Pesce, and Maryellen L. Giger of the University of Chicago, a modest, but statistically significant, increase in interreader agreement was observed after the interpretation of ABUS, making implementation feasible in a clinical practice.