The assets and liabilities of mammography

Anyone using mammography should perform it seriously with one or two radiologists in any group as the primary physicians. It is only by being exposed to a high patient volume day after day and having a thorough knowledge of all the pathologic conditions that one can truly appreciate the subtle mammographic patterns present. In only this way is the diligent radiologist optimally helpful to the surgeon and pathologist, and this best serves patient welfare. Conversely, the part-time mammographer, although not necessarily besmirching his professional competence, will tend to give the examination a bad reputation by unnecessary hedges and reporting uncertainties characterized by long winded reports. Patients undergoing mammography should undergo a physical examination by the radiologist. Thus, accuracy rates for the detection of cancer can approach, 98 per cent. Liabilities consequent to mammography can be minimized by the professional competence of the radiologist, understanding the limitations of the examination and the expertise of the reporting style.