[Digital Mammography as a Screening Tool in Korea]

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Context:

• Over 4 million women in Korea undergo mammography annually for breast cancer screening.
• Digital mammography (DM) adoption in Korea is currently around 35%, despite its benefits.
• Screen-film mammography (SFM) and computed radiography (CR) are older mammography technologies.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of digital mammography (DM) compared to screen-film mammography (SFM) and computed radiography (CR) in breast cancer screening.
• To assess the impact of breast density, age, and screening round on DM's diagnostic performance.
• To identify barriers and propose recommendations for increasing DM utilization in Korea.

Summary:

• Digital mammography (DM) demonstrates higher diagnostic accuracy than SFM and CR for breast cancer screening.
• DM's superior performance is consistent across different patient demographics (age, breast density) and screening rounds.
• The study highlights the need for improved National Health Insurance reimbursement and radiologist training to facilitate DM replacement.

Impact:

• Enhanced diagnostic accuracy in breast cancer screening through wider DM adoption can lead to earlier detection and improved patient outcomes.
• Recommendations for policy changes (insurance fees) and education can accelerate the transition to advanced digital mammography technology.
• Increased accessibility of DM technology can help reduce disparities in screening quality and improve public health in Korea.