Title: A review of digital mammography

Authors: Xin Qian; Sigen Wang

Addresses: Department of Radiation Oncology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA ' FROS Radiation Oncology Cyberknife Center, Manhattan Radiation Oncology, New York, NY 10002, USA

Abstract: Mammography is a radiographic examination that is specially designed for detecting breast cancer. Screen-film mammography has been the standard breast imaging tool used in conventional mammography. New developments in detector technology and computers are altering the landscape of mammography imaging. Digital imaging systems entered in the radiology departments 15 years ago using photostimulable phosphors (PSP), charge coupled device (CCD), and photoconduction (Thoravision) detectors. Recent introduction of flat panel X-ray detectors can offer extremely high quantum efficiency and high resolution. Digital mammography, also called full field digital mammography (FFDM), offers the promise of revolutionising the practice of mammography through its superior dose and contrast performance. The overall diagnostic accuracy of digital and film mammography as a means of screening for breast cancer is similar, but digital mammography is more accurate. In addition, advanced applications made possible through digital imaging, such as automated computer-aided diagnosis, dual energy and 3D tomosynthesis etc. are expected to further improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

Keywords: mammograms; flat panel detector; full field digital mammography; FFDM; digital tomosynthesis; breast cancer detection; diagnostic accuracy; breast cancer screening; digital imaging; automated computer-aided diagnosis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCBDD.2015.071129

International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design, 2015 Vol.8 No.2, pp.90 - 104

Published online: 13 Aug 2015 *

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