Computer-aided detection (CAD) of cancers detected on double reading by one reader only

We evaluated the role of computer-aided detection (CAD) in cancers undergoing double reading and detected by one reader only. A series of 33 cancers, originally missed by the first reader and detected by the second reader, and 75 negative controls were processed to assess CAD sensitivity, and was read by the six radiologists who originally missed the cancers with the help of CAD printouts. CAD case-based sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value were 51.5%, 18.6% and 21.7%, respectively. Average sensitivity of all radiologists in all cancers in the series was 74.7%, being higher for CAD+ (86.2%) than for CAD− (62.5%) cancers (P<0.01). When reading cancer cases that they had originally missed, radiologists had a sensitivity of 75.8%, which was higher for CAD+ (100.0%) than for CAD− (58.3%) cancers. The average recall rate was 14.2%, the majority of recalls (45 out of 64) occurring for lesions marked by CAD. CAD may help in detecting at most half of cancers missed at a single reading but detected by a second reader.