How Good is Your Radiologist?

To find the most qualified facility and radiologist, first ask your primary care physician to recommend highly regarded breast centers in your area. Even if the center isn’t on your insurance plan it’s often worth paying out of pocket for the best radiologists and the latest equipment. Before scheduling an appointment, visit www.fda.gov/cdrh/mammography/certified.html to make sure the facility is FDA-certified and meets standards set by the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA). When you arrive, check that the certificate is on display and current. When you meet your radiologist, inquire about her experience: Research shows that the most accurate readings come from the most seasoned doctors. While MQSA standards require radiologists to read 960 mammograms (digital or conventional) within a 24-month period to remain certified or 240 mammograms within a six-month period to become certified, some doctors advise going to a radiologist who reads many mammograms a day. “Practice makes perfect,” says Stamatia Destounis, M.D., clinical associate professor at the University of Rochester and staff radiologist at the Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic, in New York. “The more you read, the better you are at it.” She advises seeking a radiologist who specializes exclusively in breast imaging. Also ask whether the technologists who perform the mammograms or who test the equipment are certified and meet MQSA requirements. These factors can impact the accuracy of test results