Double reporting with arbitration in the symptomatic setting – is it worth it?

National breast screening and high risk screening mammograms in the UK are all double reported with arbitration. However, with regard to symptomatic mammogram reporting, the guidance does not stipulate that double reporting is required, which allows for variation in practice based on departmental protocols. Our service also double reported all non-breast screening mammograms, including symptomatic (one stop) clinic mammograms and high risk screening and surveillance following a personal history of breast cancer (PHBC), collectively referred to as ‘cold reporting’. Any discrepancies between the first and second read were arbitrated by a third reader. With increasing workforce pressures, this practice was increasingly difficult to sustain and justify. This service evaluation was undertaken to determine whether it would be clinically safe to reduce to single reading in the symptomatic clinic setting.

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