Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
13:44
Detection of Architectural Distortion in Prior Mammograms via Analysis of Oriented Patterns
Published on: August 30, 2013
Digital mammography: what do we and what don't we know?
1Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Ulrich.Bick@charite.de
European Radiology
|April 13, 2007
Summary
Digital mammography offers diagnostic accuracy comparable to film-screen, excelling in dense breasts for early breast cancer detection. Further advancements in image processing and computer-aided diagnosis show promise for improved outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Oncology
Background:
- Full-field digital mammography (FFDM) is widely adopted for breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
- Various detector technologies exist, each with unique benefits and drawbacks.
- FFDM's diagnostic accuracy is comparable to film-screen mammography in general populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of digital mammography on workflow and breast cancer diagnosis.
- To highlight the advantages of digital mammography, particularly in specific patient groups.
- To discuss the potential of advanced image processing and computer-aided diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on digital mammography.
- Comparison of diagnostic accuracy between digital and film-screen mammography.
- Analysis of digital mammography's performance in younger women with dense breasts.
Main Results:
- Digital mammography demonstrates diagnostic accuracy at least equivalent to film-screen mammography.
- Digital mammography offers superior contrast optimization in dense breast tissue, crucial for younger women.
- Potential benefits for women with genetic predisposition to breast cancer through intensified early detection.
Conclusions:
- Digital mammography is a valuable tool for breast cancer diagnosis and screening.
- Its advantages are particularly evident in younger women with dense breasts and those at high genetic risk.
- Further research into optimal image processing and computer-aided diagnosis is needed to maximize early detection potential.
Related Concept Videos
01:24X-ray Imaging
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (1845–1923) was experimenting with electrical current when he discovered that a mysterious and invisible "ray" would pass through his flesh but leave an outline of his bones on a screen coated with a metal compound. In 1895, Röntgen made the first durable record of the internal parts of a living human: an "X-ray" image (as it came to be called) of his wife’s hand. Scientists worldwide quickly began their own experiments with X-rays, and by 1900, X-ray was widely...
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...
01:10Computed Tomography
Tomography refers to imaging by sections. Computed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses computers to analyze several cross-sectional X-rays to reveal minute details about structures in the body.
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
The most common cardiovascular diagnostic test is an X-ray. It produces images of the heart, blood vessels, and adjacent structures.
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:17Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize the body's internal structures. It is a non-invasive and safe procedure that does not involve the use of ionizing radiation, making it widely used in various medical fields. Ultrasonography is used to study heart function, blood flow in the neck or extremities, certain conditions such as gallbladder disease, and fetal growth and development.
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called a...
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called a...
01:29Positron Emission Tomography
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique involving radiopharmaceuticals — substances that emit short-lived radiation. Although the first PET scanner was introduced in 1961, it took 15 more years before radiopharmaceuticals were combined with the technique and revolutionized its potential.
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...