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Use of digital mammography in needle localization procedures
D D Dershaw1, R C Fleischman, L Liberman
1Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology
|September 1, 1993
Summary
Digital mammography significantly reduces needle localization time by nearly 50% and lowers patient radiation dose by half. However, limitations include imaging fine calcifications and lesions near the chest wall.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Digital Health
Background:
- Digital imaging technology offers rapid image display and manipulation capabilities.
- Traditional film-screen mammography has been the standard for breast imaging procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the duration and accuracy of needle localizations using digital versus film-screen mammography.
- To evaluate radiation doses and phantom imaging capabilities of both digital and film-screen technologies.
Main Methods:
- A prototype digital mammography system and analog equipment were evaluated using the American College of Radiology phantom.
- Data on duration, accuracy, and image count were collected from 157 digital and 103 film-screen needle localizations.
- Average glandular doses were calculated for women with 4-5 cm compressed breast thickness.
Main Results:
- Digital mammography reduced needle localization time by almost 50% (20 to 11 minutes).
- Mean glandular dose decreased by approximately 50% with digital imaging (0.219 to 0.120 cGy).
- 17% of digital localizations were aborted due to factors like small field of view and inability to image certain lesions.
Conclusions:
- Digital mammography offers a 50% reduction in needle localization time and patient radiation dose.
- Limitations of digital systems include difficulty imaging fine calcifications, masses, and lesions near the chest wall or axilla.
- Findings are applicable to stereotactic procedures utilizing digital mammography.