Computed Radiography-based Mammography with 50-μm Pixel Size:

Rationale and Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the breast cancer diagnostic capability of “dual-side readout” computed radiography–based mammography (DRCRM) with a 50-μm pixel size compared to that of conventional film-screen mammography (FSM).

Materials and Methods

Thirty patients who were scheduled for surgical treatment for breast cancer and 10 normal volunteers were enrolled. All 30 patients underwent surgical treatment, and breast cancer was proved histopathologically. Twenty-eight patients had 35 invasive carcinomas, and the remaining two had ductal carcinomas in situ. Each of the 40 women underwent both DRCRM and FSM (with double exposure and the same view, without removing compression). Three observers retrospectively interpreted the mammograms independently and evaluated and rated masses and class categories. The accuracy of the detection of masses was evaluated with alternative free-response receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Sensitivity for the detection of masses and of cancers was also evaluated.

Results

The mean areas under the alternative free-response receiver-operating characteristic curves in the detection of the masses were 0.88 for DRCRM and 0.91 for FSM (P = .08). The corresponding values for mean sensitivity for the detection of masses were 0.74 and 0.77 (P = .48) and those for the detection of cancers 0.79 and 0.84 (P = .20).

Conclusion

No significant differences were observed between DRCRM and FSM for diagnosis of breast cancers.

Key Words: Digital mammography, diagnosis, breast cancer, breast radiographic comparative studies