Lesion conspicuity on synthetic screening mammography compared to full field digital screening mammography

• Published in: Clinical imaging Vol. 75; pp. 90 - 96
• Main Authors: Giess, Catherine S., Raza, Sughra, Denison, Christine M., Yeh, Eren D., Gombos, Eva C., Frost, Elisabeth P., Bay, Camden P., Chikarmane, Sona A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2021; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Algorithms; Asymmetry; Breast; Breasts; Calcification; Cancer; Clinical medicine; Confidence intervals; Conspicuity; Digital breast tomosynthesis; Distortion; Evaluation; Hypothesis testing; Lesions; Mammography; Medical screening; Radiation; Screening; Synthetic mammography; Work stations; Digital breast tomosynthesis; Synthetic mammography; Screening
• ISSN: 0899-7071; 1873-4499
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2021.01.014

To compare lesion conspicuity on synthetic screening mammography (SM) plus digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) versus full field digital mammography (FFDM) plus DBT. Seven breast imagers each prospectively evaluated 107–228 screening mammograms (FFDM, DBT, and SM; total 1206 examinations) over 12 weeks in sets of 10–50 consecutive examinations. Interpretation sessions alternated as follows: SM + DBT, then FFDM, or FFDM + DBT, then SM. Lesion conspicuity on SM versus FFDM (equal/better versus less) was assessed using proportions with 95% confidence intervals. DBT-only findings were excluded. Overall 1082 of 1206 (89.7%) examinations were assessed BI-RADS 1/2, and 124 of 1206 (10.3%) assessed BI-RADS 0. There were 409 evaluated findings, including 134 masses, 119 calcifications, 72 asymmetries, 49 architectural distortion, and 35 focal asymmetries. SM conspicuity compared to FFDM conspicuity for lesions was rated 1) masses: 77 (57%) equal or more conspicuous, 57 (43%) less conspicuous; 2) asymmetries/focal asymmetries: 61 (57%) equal or more conspicuous, and 46 (43%) less conspicuous; 3) architectural distortion: 46 (94%) equal or more conspicuous, 3 (6%) less conspicuous; 4) calcifications: 115 (97%) equal or more conspicuous, 4 (3%) less conspicuous. SM had better conspicuity than FFDM for calcifications and architectural distortion and similar conspicuity for most masses and asymmetries. Compared to FFDM, SM has better conspicuity for calcifications and architectural distortion and similar conspicuity for most masses and asymmetries. •Nearly all calcifications are more conspicuous on synthetic mammography.•Nearly all architectural distortions are more conspicuous on synthetic mammography.•43% non-calcified, non-distorted lesions have reduced visibility on synthetic mammography.