Does the availability of prior mammograms improve radiologists’ observer performance?—a scoping review

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to examine the impact of previous mammogram availability on radiologists’ performance from screening populations and experimental studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of the literature was conducted using five databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL as well as Google and reference lists of articles. Keywords were combined with “AND” or “OR” or “WITH” and included “prior mammograms, diagnostic performance, initial images, diagnostic efficacy, subsequent images, previous imaging, and radiologist’s performance”. Studies that assessed the impact of previous mammogram availability on radiologists’ performance were reviewed. The Standard for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy guidelines was used to critically appraise individual sources of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 15 articles were reviewed. The sample of mammogram cases used across these studies varied from 36 to 1,208,051. Prior mammograms did not affect sensitivity [with priors: 62–86% (mean = 73.3%); without priors: 69.4–87.4% (mean = 75.8%)] and cancer detection rate, but increased specificity [with priors: 72–96% (mean = 87.5%); without priors: 63–87% (mean = 80.5%)] and reduced false-positive rates [with priors: 3.7 to 36% (mean = 19.9%); without priors 13.3–49% (mean = 31.4%)], recall rates [with priors: 3.8–57% (mean = 26.6%); without priors: [4.9%–67.5% (mean = 37.9%)], and abnormal interpretation rate decreased by 4% with priors. Evidence for the associations between the availability of prior mammograms and positive-predictive value, area under the curve (AUC) from the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and localisation ROC AUC, and positive-predictive value of recall is limited and unclear. CONCLUSION: Availability of prior mammograms reduces recall rates, false-positive rates, abnormal interpretation rates, and increases specificity without affecting sensitivity and cancer detection rate.