Satoshi Kawanami MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Takatoshi Aoki MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Keiko Mishima, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yukunori Korogi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Seiichi Murakami, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of digital magnification as an adjunct to conventional display of bilateral breast for the characterization of the breast lesions on a 10-bit liquid crystal display monitor.

Soft-copy data sets of 75 consecutive cases were retrospectively assessed pathologically proven breast lesions (25 benign, 50 malignant) from single institution. The computed radiography system for mammography consisted of a state-of-art mammography unit (Senographe DMR, GEM) and a single plate image reader, which includes transparent-support, 50 micron capability in 18*24cm and dual-sided reader. A pair of cranio-caudal or medio-lateral oblique images was displayed in a 10-bit liquid crystal display, followed by digital magnification in region of interest. Two readers independently evaluated mammographic findings in detail with or without digital magnification as followings: the number of micro-calcifications, morphology of micro-calcifications, distribution of micro-calcifications, shape of masses, margin of masses, density of masses, and architectural distortion. A 5-point scale based on the BI-RADS classification was used to characterize the lesions in terms of malignancy.

Number of micro-calcification was increased with use of digital magnification, but no statistical significant improvement was found in predicting the presence of malignancy. Digital magnification does not have strong effect in the characterization of the breast masses and architectural distortion.

Digital magnification in filmless mammographic interpretation may improve detectability of subtle micro-calcification, but has currently small impact for lesion characterization in terms of malignancy.

Kawanami, S, Aoki, T, Mishima, K, Korogi, Y, Murakami, S, Experimental Analysis for Characterization of Breast Masses, Calcification, and Architectural Distortion: Is Digital Magnification Useful in Filmless Mammographic Interpretation?.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4410773.html