ACR Challenges NY Times' Portrayal of Mammography
Contact: Cary Boshamer
(703) 716-7540
E-mail: caryb@acr.org
Reston, Va. –– The American College of Radiology strongly disagrees with the negative—and at times inaccurate—portrayal of mammography in recent issues of the New York Times ("Spotting Breast Cancer: Doctors Are Weak Link," June 27; "Mammogram Team Learns From Its Errors," June 28). Michael Moss' depiction of mammography plagued by quality control difficulties and inexpert radiology professionals is reckless and can only serve to deter the progress in the detection and treatment of breast cancer. The combination of high quality films and expert interpretation, even in the face of a rising incidence of breast cancer, has contributed to a 20 percent reduction in deaths from the disease over the last 10 years.
As with any medical specialty, radiology is not a perfect science, and variability is inherent. However, the ACR has established measures, including educational programs and self-assessment tests, to assist radiologists and their staffs in delivering the highest level of care available.
The spotlighted efforts of Kim L. Adcock, M.D., are certainly laudable. However, his method is what the ACR has advocated for more than a decade. The ACR developed the benchmarking tools used by Adcock and, despite Moss' claims, they are used by many other radiologists to monitor their practices.
"The New York Times articles wrongly suggest that the majority of radiology professionals are not doing a good job when it comes to mammography," says Harvey L. Neiman, M.D., chairman of the ACR Board of Chancellors. "The majority are doing the right thing the right way for the right reason."
Regular screening mammography is one of health care's most effective tools in dealing with the nation's breast cancer epidemic. Alarmist headlines and the harmful depiction of an entire profession only serve to mislead women who might otherwise seek this potentially lifesaving procedure, and create the public's distrust of those professionals who are trained and experienced in this medical procedure.
Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. The ACR initiated its mammography accreditation program in 1987 as a means to promote quality patient care. Accreditation became mandatory in 1994 as part of the Mammography Quality Standards Act, which is unique as a federal legislative mandate designed to achieve and maintain quality mammography. The ACR's continued emphasis on regular mammography screening has had a significant impact on women's health as evidenced by the decline in the number of breast cancer deaths since 1989.
In addition, Moss questions the diligence of the evaluation of mammograms as part of accreditation. "Accreditation is an educational process," Neiman says. "The evaluation and the resultant feedback help to promote a high level of patient care on the part of radiology professionals."
Moss erroneously refers to the ACR as a "trade organization." In fact, the ACR is a professional society, with 32,000 members including radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists, whose purpose is to improve quality patient care. ACR members are required to meet specific criteria for membership.