IN 1992, A NATIONAL Cancer Institute expert panel determined that, of all emergent technologies, full-field digital mammography (FFDM) held the greatest potential for improving breast cancer detection.1,2 The transition to digital mammography is a necessary step in the ongoing process of improving mammographic image quality and advancing toward the goal of earlier breast cancer detection. Digit...

In mammography, thick or dense breast regions persistently suffer from reduced contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) because of degraded contrast from large scatter intensities and relatively high noise. Area x-ray beam equalization can improve image quality by increasing the x-ray exposure to under-penetrated regions without increasing the exposure to other breast regions. Optimal equalization paramet...

PURPOSE To compare radiation doses and lifetime attributable risks (LARs) of radiation-induced cancer incidence and mortality from breast imaging studies involving the use of ionizing radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Recent literature on radiation doses from radiologic procedures and organ doses from nuclear medicine procedures, along with Biologic Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VII age...

While the principle of tomosynthesis has been known for almost a century, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a novel technology that owes its rapid development to the introduction of full-field digital mammography (FFDM). This review article covers the principles and design considerations of DBT, including system geometry. Further, the article provides an in-depth introduction to DBT dosimet...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the introduction of digital mammography in breast cancer screening has resulted in changes in the detection and management of microcalcifications. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively studied the performance indicators of our breast cancer screening program that are related to the diagnosis of microcalcifications (rates of recall and recommendation of interme...

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to compare the detection and distinguishability of microcalcifications on mammograms obtained with a digital direct flat-panel detector versus an analog system using an anthropomorphic breast phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS Studies were performed with a digital mammography system (Selenia) and an analog mammography system (Mammomat 3). Sixty-five transp...

While screening mammography is recognized as the most effective method for early detection of breast cancer, this modality has limitations that are the driving force behind efforts to refine existing mammography technologies and develop new ones offering improved detection of breast cancer. Full-field digital mammography (FFDM) systems use digital detectors to convert x-ray photons to digital s...