EVALUATION OF AN ANATOMICAL FILTER-BASED EXPOSURE EQUALIZATION TECHNIQUE IN MAMMOGRAPHY

Citation
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
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology,Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Journal title
British journal of radiology
ISSN journal
00071285 → ACNP
Volume
71
Issue
850
Year of publication
1998
Pages
1049 - 1057
Database
ISI
SICI code
Abstract
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.