How to Recognize and Correct Artifacts on Contrast-Enhanced Mammography

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Breast Imaging Technology

Background:

• Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is an emerging diagnostic tool in breast imaging.
• CEM can reveal various imaging artifacts that may obscure or mimic breast disease, impacting diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe common artifacts encountered in contrast-enhanced mammography.
• To inform healthcare professionals about the causes and potential solutions for CEM artifacts.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging findings from contrast-enhanced mammography examinations.
• Categorization and description of prevalent artifacts, including patient motion, pectoral highlighting, implant-related, halo, corrugation, cloudy fat, contrast, and skin artifacts.
• Analysis of the imaging appearance and potential clinical significance of skin lesions on CEM.

Main Results:

• Common CEM artifacts include ripple, misregistration, pectoral highlighting, implant artifact, halo, corrugation, cloudy fat, contrast retention/contamination, skin line enhancement, and skin overexposure.
• Skin lesions exhibit diverse appearances and can represent benign or malignant conditions.
• Artifacts can significantly affect the interpretation of CEM studies.

Conclusions:

• Technologists, radiologists, and physicists must be knowledgeable about CEM artifacts and skin enhancement.
• Understanding artifact causes and solutions is essential for optimizing CEM interpretation and patient care.
• Proactive management of artifacts can improve the diagnostic yield of contrast-enhanced mammography.