Mammography self-evaluation online test for screening readers: an Italian Society of Medical Radiology (SIRM) initiative

Objectives To report and analyse the characteristics and performance of the frst cohort of Italian radiologists completing the national mammography self-evaluation online test established by the Italian Society of Medical Radiology (SIRM). Methods A specifcally-built dataset of 132 mammograms (24 with screen-detected cancers and 108 negative cases) was preliminarily tested on 48 radiologists to defne pass thresholds (62% sensitivity and 86% specifcity) and subsequently made available online to SIRM members during a 13-month timeframe between 2018 and 2019. Associations between participants’ characteristics, pass rates, and diagnostic accuracy were then investigated with descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariable regression analyses. Results A total of 342 radiologists completed the test, 151/342 (44.2%) with success. All individual variables, except gender, showed a signifcant correlation with pass rates and diagnostic sensitivity, confrmed by univariate logistic regression, while only involvement in organised screening programs and number of mammograms read per year showed a positive association with specifcity at univariate logistic regression. In the multivariable regression analysis, fewer variables remained signifcant:>3000 mammograms read per year for success rate; female gender, public practice setting, and higher experience self-judgement for sensitivity; no variables were signifcantly associated with specifcity. Conclusions This national self-evaluation test efectively diferentiated multiple aspects of mammographic reading experience, but specifc breast imaging experience was shown not to strictly guarantee good diagnostic accuracy. Due to its easy use and the validity of obtained results, this test could be extended to all Italian breast radiologists, regardless of their experience, also as a Breast Unit accreditation criterion.