Since 2003, Main Street Radiology has utilized computer-aided detection (CAD) software for interpretation of screening mammograms. CAD has been widely accepted as a powerful tool in increasing the sensitivity of mammography. In a multicenter study (AJR 2003; 181:687-693), CAD was shown to increase radiologist sensitivity by 21.2%.

CAD systems are not intended to replace radiologists, but to offer a "second opinion", as the software highlights suspicious regions on the mammogram. Since the CAD may miss obvious cancers easily detected by an experienced radiologist, mammograms must be viewed independent of the CAD information as well. CAD may also highlight potential lesions that are clearly benign to a trained eye.

Reading mammograms is a tedious task requiring interpretation of complex combination of multiple imaging features. Even the most experienced and careful radiologist can miss cancers on mammograms. As with many of the large academic centers throughout the country, MSR hopes to reduce false-negative mammograms with the addition of CAD.