AIR-Abnormal Interpretation/Recall Rate
What is Recall Rate/Callback Rate?
Recall rate, otherwise known as callback rate, is the proportion of women who are called after an initial visit to come back to the office to have additional imaging done. Recall can happen to both asymptomatic and symptomatic women.
What is the relationship between the Recall Rate and the Abnormal Interpretation Rate (AIR)?
The AIR, according to Funaro et. al., is the percentage of mammograms that were interpreted to be positive (p. 45, Funaro et. al., 2021). If interpreting screening mammograms as BI-RADS categories 0, 3, 4, and 5, you are considered to be calculating the more inclusive AIR. If using just BI-RADS category 0 for interpreting screening mammography results, the results are generally referred to as the recall rate.
What are the performance benchmarks for Recall Rate/Abnormal Interpretation Rate?
The Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium’s performance benchmark for recall rate/abnormal interpretation rate is 11.5% for screening mammograms, and 12.5% for diagnostic mammograms.
What type of mammogram will an individual receive if they are recalled after receiving a screening mammogram?
Typically, if an individual is recalled for additional imaging after a screening mammogram, the physician will want them to complete a diagnostic mammogram workup. The purpose of the diagnostic series is to get a more in-depth view of the area of concern, in addition to comparing the diagnostic series to past mammograms to evaluate changes over time.
How is Recall Rate displayed in Mammologix’s Mammography Audit?
The recall rate is displayed as a percentage (%).
How can an interpreting physician’s Recall Rate relate to their False Positive Rate?
According to Funaro et. al., if an interpreting physician has a high false-positive rate, their individual recall rate will be high, and their cancer detection rate will be similar to the benchmark standards. Funaro’s suggestion for these physicians is to employ strategies such as double reading for callback mammograms and evaluating all imaging series completed very thoroughly to avoid having a high false-positive rate (Funaro et. al., 2021).
Where is Recall Rate seen in Mammologix’s Mammography Medical Audit?
Mammologix refers to Recall Rate/Abnormal Interpretation Rate in its mammography audit information. It is provided in several areas:
- Aggregate Executive Summary: “% Recall Rate/Abnormal Interpretation Rate”
- Screening Mammograms (Facility and Individual counts)
- Interpreting Physician Executive Summary: “Call Back Rate: % Recall Rate/Abnormal Interpretation Rate”
- Screening Mammograms (Facility and Individual counts)
Sources:
Funaro, Kimberly et al. “Understanding the Mammography Audit.” Radiologic Clinics of North America vol. 59,1 (2021): 41-55. doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2020.09.009
"Benchmarks For Abnormal Screening Mammography Interpretations: BCSC". Bcsc-Research.Org, 2022, https://www.bcsc-research.org/statistics/screening-performance-benchmarks/abnormal-scrn-benchmarks. Accessed 7 Apr 2022.
"Benchmarks For Abnormal Diagnostic Mammography: BCSC". Bcsc-Research.Org, 2022, https://www.bcsc-research.org/statistics/diagnostic-performance-benchmarks/benchmarks-abnormal-diagnostic-mammography. Accessed 7 Apr 2022.
