Double Independent Reading at Screening Mammography with Arbitration at the University Hospital of the West Indies: The initial experience

Aim: To evaluate the initial experience with the first double independent reading at screening mammography in JamaicaMethod: This was a retrospective review of all patients presenting to the Breast Imaging Unit for Screening Mammography at the University Hospital of the West Indies from October 2006 to April 2007Results: A total of 368 women were screened. Of these, 101 were undergoing their first screening mammogram. 77 had done one previous mammogram. 190 women had done more than 2 mammograms. The age of the women screened ranged from 36 to 90 years of age. The mean age was 55 years. 36 women were considered abnormal. 36 women were considered abnormal. Suspicious microcalcification was the most common abnormality reported. No malignancies were confirmed at histopathological evaluation.Conclusion: The recall rate in our study was very low. No cancers were detected. This is likely due to the small sample size. Detection rates are not likely to improve unless more eligible women participate in breast cancer screening in Jamaica.