Computer Aided Detection (CAD) for breast MRI

Since 1999, there has been a 40 percent increase per year in the number of breast MR studies performed in the United States. In addition, over 1200 sites in the United States have purchased surface coils for use in breast MR. This number is expected to grow to over 2,000 coils by the end of 2007. It is well accepted that MR sensitivity for invasive breast cancers is near 100%, but as the use of breast MRI increases, radiologists interpreting breast MR are challenged to achieve high specificity while retaining high sensitivity. Reading the large number of acquired MR images in a reasonable amount of time also becomes more important as the number of studies increases. Breast MR acquisition and image interpretation techniques have been refined through clinical optimization. The number of images to interpret, however, has increased to several hundred per case. Computer Aided Detection (CAD) algorithms have allowed radiologists to regain efficiency while maintaining optimized acquisition techniques. The first CAD system for breast MR (CADstream by Confirma, Inc.) was launched in January 2003. The CAD installed base has since grown to over 150 systems in the US. The primary reason for this quick adoption of CAD for breast MR is that the CAD software enables readers to increase their efficiency while potentially improving their overall accuracy. The full benefits CAD for Breast MR are realized when the interpreting radiologist has a thorough understanding of the algorithms used, and the limitations of CAD.