Digital mammography is more accurate than film for diagnosis of breast cancer in women with dense breasts, according to results from the Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial presented at the RSNA meeting.
Dr. Etta Pisano, a professor of radiology at the University of North Carolina, and colleagues, reviewed film and digital mammograms from the DMIST cancer cases and assessed factors contributing to lesion visibility on both modalities. The trial involved 49,529 women from 33 centers.
The researchers sought to understand why digital performed better than film in their analysis of the trial. They found that radiologist readers most frequently attributed differences in cancer visibility to variations in image contrast and not to differences in positioning or compression. Digital showed image contrast much better than film, Pisano said.
Lesion visibility on digital versus film was significantly greater for women with dense breasts even when adjusted for age, lesion type, and mammography system, she said.
For fatty breasts, the researchers found digital and film to be equivalent, with a nonsignificant trend demonstrating film as better in women older than 65. Even with the trend, Pisano does not recommend film screening for women with fatty breasts.
"We have a trend, and frankly given the results of this study, image processing was likely involved in any results that we got. I think the manufacturer should work hard on improving image processing with fatty breasts," she said.
Cancer became more visible on the GE system compared with the Fischer and Fuji products tested, according to the researchers.
Given the accuracy of digital, there is no reason to maintain a film system, Pisano said.
|
DiagnosticImaging.com. Trial finds digital mammography performs better than film
By Rebekah Moan |
December 1, 2008
RSNA 2008 December 1
Elastography breaks new ground in musculoskeletal imaging
December 1, 2008 Researchers from Egypt and Austria are taking a leap of faith to evaluate several possible ultrasound elastography applications in musculoskeletal radiology. Everyone from weekend warriors to elite athletes may benefit if the test is proven effective, according to papers released Monday at the RSNA meeting. Autistic children demonstrate measurable sound processing delays
December 1, 2008 Magnetoencephalography technology used to study abnormalities in auditory and language processing of autistic children has demonstrated measurable delays, according to a study presented at the RSNA meeting. MRA explains benefits of exercise for aging adults
December 1, 2008 Doctors have known for years that aerobic exercise counteracts the effects of aging on the human brain. Findings presented at the RSNA meeting contributed to an explanation of why. Thin-slice CT tags subsegmental pulmonary emboli in oncology patients
December 1, 2008 Oncology patients have a fourfold risk above the general population of developing pulmonary embolism. If the patient is receiving chemotherapy, the risk is even greater. Irish radiologists have found that imaging these patients with thin-slice CT during routine staging or restaging can pinpoint clinically unsuspected pulmonary embolism. Brachytherapy improves cancer treatment in augmented breasts
December 1, 2008 Targeted radiation of breast cancer reduces treatment time from six and a half weeks to five days, while reducing pain and improving cosmetic outcome, according to a study presented at the RSNA meeting. Older radiologists read more mammograms than younger generation
December 1, 2008 In Pennsylvania, radiologists 65 and older read significantly more mammograms than any other group, according to an American College of Radiology patterns-of-care study. Sony shows mammo printer
December 1, 2008 Sony has unveiled at RSNA 2008 a printer designed specifically for digital mammography. GE, Philips fuse ultrasound data with CT and MR
December 1, 2008 Interventional guidance is getting a boost at RSNA 2008 through a novel ultrasound system developed by GE Healthcare and a partnership between Philips Ultrasound and interventional workstation developer Traxtal. Younger ER pulmonary embolism patients could avoid radiation risk
December 1, 2008 More stringent criteria to evaluate emergency room patients under 40 years of age with suspected pulmonary embolism could decrease radiation exposure while also saving time and money, according to research presented at the RSNA meeting. Trial finds digital mammography performs better than film
December 1, 2008 Digital mammography is more accurate than film for diagnosis of breast cancer in women with dense breasts, according to results from the Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial presented at the RSNA meeting. |
|
