G. Panayiotakis et al., EVALUATION OF AN ANATOMICAL FILTER-BASED EXPOSURE EQUALIZATION TECHNIQUE IN MAMMOGRAPHY, British journal of radiology, 71(850), 1998, pp. 1049-1057
An anatomical filter-based exposure equalization technique in mammogra
phy is clinically evaluated. An observer performance comparative study
, between this technique and the conventional one, is carried out on t
he basis of the visualization of six anatomical features situated at t
he breast periphery. The effect of parenchymal breast patterns and com
pressed breast thickness in the visualization of these features is stu
died. 533 craniocaudal mammograms were interpreted by two radiologists
independently, using a five-point rating scale. Use of the Wilcoxon r
anking test for unpaired data shows statistically highly significant i
mprovement (p < 0.0001) in the visualization of the nipple, areola, sk
in and subcutaneous fat in all cases, for the equalization technique.
The improvement is dependent on parenchymal breast patterns and compre
ssed breast thickness for peripheral Cooper's ligaments and peripheral
surface veins. In the case of total fatty replacement and/or thin bre
asts neither technique seems to be superior (p>0.05) with respect to t
hese two features. Clinical results indicate the value of this techniq
ue in clinical routine.