Diagnostic Mammo and Interpretive Performance -- A Standard Based on the Experts

Objective: To establish performance thresholds for physicians interpreting diagnostic mammographic studies. Methods: A standard-setting initiative was carried out using the Agnoff approach, which is characterized by forming an assembly of subject matter experts who are then tasked with evaluating certain items as components of competency and determining the proportion of minimally competent participants that would correctly follow those components. For this study, a panel of experts in breast imaging was assembled in September 2011. The study design mandated that the "experts" had to meet the following criteria: at least 10 years experience in interpreting mammograms; at least 75% of their practice was focused on breast imaging; and they had either completed fellowship training or had at least 15 years experience interpreting mammograms. These radiologists had been recruited to participate from contacts within the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC), which is a National Canc more...