Computer-aided diagnosis of breast cancer in mammography: evidence and potential

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) methods are being developed to help radiologists improve the interpretation of mammograms for the detection of breast cancer. We review several laboratory observer performance studies of computer-aided diagnosis of malignant and benign breast lesions. These studies show that CAD can improve radiologist diagnostic performance by increasing the number of their biopsy recommendations for actual malignant lesions while reducing the number of their biopsy recommendations for suspicious but actually benign lesions, and by reducing the variability in their interpretation of mammograms. These results indicate a potential clinical role of CAD in mammography for the detection of breast cancer.