Development of a community mammography registry: experience in the breast screening program project.

PURPOSE

To assess the formation, implementation, and operation of a community mammography registry, which is a consolidated database for all mammography and breast biopsy reports within a community.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A registry was created in Lee County, Fla. Mammography interpretation data were provided by 13 facilities and 38 radiologists organized in several private practice groups.

RESULTS

The registry contains data on 87,926 mammograms and 3,234 breast biopsies performed between June 1991 and May 1994. The registry calculates individual and group mammography interpretation accuracy measures, such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, false-positive and false-negative rates, and clinical outcome measures such as sizes and stages of malignant lesions detected.

CONCLUSION

The registry allows community radiologists and mammography practices to compare their outcomes with those of their local peers and to published data and encourages focused interventions for quality improvement based on objective experience.