Breast Imaging and Computer-Aided Detection

Breast imaging is the newest, and according to most criteria the weakest, of all radiology subspecialties. Screening mammography in particular often loses money and is subsidized by other sections of the radiology department and occasionally, as in my own case, by direct hospital payments to breast imagers. Screening mammography is also the most common basis for lawsuits in radiology, which is not surprising, since 25 to 50% of cases of breast cancer are identified retrospectively on the previous annual screening mammogram. As the only quasi–public health endeavor in radiology, screening mammography is heavily regulated, with many unfunded mandates. Screening mammography, . . .