Can breast surgeons be taught to read mammograms as well as radiologists do? One study certainly thinks so.

South African research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons earlier this month suggests that surgeons can be trained to read mammograms as well as radiologists. A prospective study of 10,020 mammograms found that “the diagnostic accuracy of the breast surgical team was similar to that of specially trained, dedicated breast radiologists in national European and Australian screening programs. The surgeons’ accuracy was higher than that of typical U.S. radiologists reading mammograms,” according to a press release announcing the study.

It’s not difficult to envision training breast surgeons to interpret mammograms. While one study does change work patterns, when you consider how unpopular reading mammograms among radiologists—as well as the shortage of breast imaging specialists in some areas—carving out the work seems to have merit. While many radiologists don’t want the work, they should cautiously consider encouraging such competition. If radiology turns mammography over to breast surgeons, hands over plain films to the emergency docs, leaves obstetrical ultrasound to Ob/Gyns, and so on, where does it end? Read the rest of this entry »

Radiology Benefits Manager (RBM) MedSolutions and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Delaware are under scrutiny in Delaware for the RBM’s denial pattern for nuclear stress tests, according to a report from CBS affiliate KYW TV in Philadelphia. The story focuses on repeated denials of nuclear stress testing for a Delaware man Mike Fields, who when admitted to the hospital by  his cardiologist was found to have four blockages and required bypass surgery.

According to the report, Blue Cross/Blue Shield has told the company to stop denying the stress tests while it invests the matter.

“It’s just a big scam to save money,” Fields told the station.