Comparison of recall, biopsy, and cancer detection rates in the Southern Derbyshire screening programme between 2006 and 2009 using hard-copy mammography and in 2009 to 2012 following the full introduction of soft-copy reporting

Our programme underwent phased implementation of digital mammography, commencing soft-copy reading (SCR) in April 2009. Prior to this, all mammograms -a mixture of direct digital (DDM), computed radiography (CR) or film screen (FS) - were printed and read on multiviewers with the old films. For SCR, prior screens were available to readers but not digitised or mounted. This study was performed to evaluate recall rates, cancer detection and mammographic features assessed and biopsied, before and after SCR was introduced.