Artifacts in mammography: ways to identify and overcome them

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• High-quality mammography is crucial for accurate breast cancer screening, relying on high sensitivity and specificity.
• Image artifacts in mammography can mimic or obscure lesions, potentially leading to misdiagnosis.
• Radiologist familiarity with common artifacts is essential for correct interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and classify artifacts encountered in mammography.
• To identify the root causes of mammographic artifacts.
• To emphasize the importance of artifact recognition for improving diagnostic quality.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of mammography artifacts observed at multiple centers.
• Classification of artifact causes into four main categories: patient-related, technologist-related, mammographic unit-related, and processing/processor-related.

Main Results:

• Mammographic artifacts were categorized into patient, technologist, equipment, and processing-related causes.
• Understanding these artifact categories aids in accurate diagnosis.
• Quality control programs can significantly reduce artifact occurrence.

Conclusions:

• Recognition and understanding of mammography artifacts are vital for accurate interpretation.
• Systematic classification of artifacts aids in identifying their origins.
• Implementing quality control measures is key to minimizing artifacts and enhancing mammographic diagnostic quality.