Status of residency training in mammography

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to survey the status of residency training in mammography, including mammography quality assurance, and to compare the results with previous surveys from 1990 and 1992. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A telephone interview was conducted with 213 chief residents acid 11 other senior residents representing all 224 accredited residency programs in diagnostic radiology. RESULTS. Compared with 1990, more programs had exclusive mammography rotations (74% versus 40%). The number of fellowships in breast imaging increased from 17 to 76. More training programs differentiated screening from diagnostic examinations (50% versus 35%). Compared with 1992, the percentage of residents who knew recommended frequencies of quality control procedures increased by 30% and the percentage who knew the maximum allowable radiation dose increased by 50%. Residents lacked fundamental knowledge about conducting medical audits, such as calculating the positive predictive value for biopsies. CONCLUSION. More time is being devoted to breast imaging in diagnostic radiology residency training, and residents show greater knowledge about mammography quality assurance.