BreastScreen NSW will use computer software, alongside a radiologist, to analyse all first-time screening mammograms after a staged rollout showed a 20% drop in callbacks for re-screening with the technology.

Previously, two radiologists would read a patient’s scan independently, and if they disagreed, a third radiologist would arbitrate.

Now, computer software that assigns mammograms an abnormality score based on how concerning the findings seem will replace one of the initial radiologists.

Initially used to read selected images from women aged 50-59 having their first screening mammogram, the technology detected 130 cancers among 20,000 scans, BreastScreen NSW said in a press release.