DUAL-ENERGY SUBTRACTION MAMMOGRAPHY

Dual-energy subtraction mammography was performed for breast examinati ons. To obtain a dual-energy subtraction image with a digital radiogra phy unit, high- and low energy images were obtained at an appropriate time interval under different x-ray exposure conditions. In about 50% of the patients with breast cancer included in this study, we obtained better diagnostic accuracy with dual-energy subtraction images than w ith conventional mammography. In some cases of breast cancer, it was p ossible to diagnose intraductal spread of this lesion on the subtracte d images. Furthermore, abnormal lesions commonly observed on mammograp hy in cases of fibrocystic disease tended to be erased on subtracted i mages. Thus, dual-energy subtraction mammography provided useful infor mation for diagnosing breast diseases. However, there were several cas es in which the subtracted images lacked sufficient image quality, and several technical problems with subtraction are thought to remain. Co pyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company