Takayuki Yamada MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Masahiro Sai, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Asuka Nakagami, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Akihiko Suzuki MD,PHD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kei Takase, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shoki Takahashi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Phase contrast mammography (PCM) is a novel system to improve the image quality of computed radiography (CR). The purpose was to compare the detectability of microcalcifications in specimen radiograms with PCM and CR.

Radiograms of 35 specimen of BIRADS 4/5 lesions were obtained using PCM (Konica-Minolta, Tokyo, Japan) and CR (Fuji Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) systems. All lesions were proven as breast cancer histopathologically. The parameters of radiation exposure were set within the range of routine clinical use. The specimen radiograph with CR was obtained at first and the specimen radiograph with PCM was subsequently obtained with comparable radiation parameters. The positioning of the specimen was comparable. One radiologist and two technicians experienced in breast imaging evaluated the detectability of microcalcifications. They counted the microcalcifications with soft-copy reading. A Wilcoxon-matched-pairs test was performed to evaluate the detectability.

In PCM and CR system, a mean number of 45.1 and 68.2 microcalcifications was found, respectively. In all cases, the detected number of microcalcifications in PCM system was more than that of CR system. The detectability of PCM system was significantly superior to that of CR system (p<0.0001).

In soft-copy reading, PCM system improves the detectability of microcalcifications as compared with CR system.

PCM system can clearly demonstrate the microcalcifications in soft-copy reading. The soft-copy reading can make the best use of advancement in PCM system.

Yamada, T, Sai, M, Nakagami, A, Suzuki, A, Takase, K, Takahashi, S, Comparison of Specimen Radiographs with Phase Contrast Mammography and Computed Radiography in Detectability of Microcalcifications in Soft-copy Reading.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5005151.html