Observer performance and radiographic technique factors in digital mammography

Anthony M. Sajewicz; Walter Huda; Denis Hseuh; Kent M. Ogden; Ernest M. Scalzetti; David R. Dance

doi:10.1117/12.462668

12 April 2002 Observer performance and radiographic technique factors in digital mammography

Anthony M. Sajewicz, Walter Huda, Denis Hseuh, Kent M. Ogden, Ernest M. Scalzetti, David R. Dance

Proceedings Volume 4686, Medical Imaging 2002: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.462668
Event: Medical Imaging 2002, 2002, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In this study, we investigated how changing the kVp and mAs used to acquire digital mammograms affects detection of mammographic lesions. A Lorad Full Field Digital Mammography system was used to expose an anthropomorphic breast phantom at x-ray tube voltages ranging from 24 to 32 kVp and output factors ranging from 20 to 120 mAs. Lesions were added at various intensities to digital mammograms, and lesion visibility was assessed using a subjective probability of the lesion being present, with the image contrast varying from visible to invisible. Four observers ranked the visibility of a large mass lesion (2 cm x 1.3 cm) and a calcification lesion with a diameter of ~1mm. Visibility of both lesions was constant between 40 mAs and 120 mAs (constant 28 kVp), but the visibility of both lesions was significantly lower at 20 mAs. For clinically relevant radiographic techniques, quantum noise does not appear to affect observer performance for detection of lesions in the size range of 1mm to 2cm. At a constant mAs, there was a trend showing a reduction in calcification visibility with increasing kVp, but this was not statistically significant (p=0.057).

Citation Download Citation

Anthony M. Sajewicz, Walter Huda, Denis Hseuh, Kent M. Ogden, Ernest M. Scalzetti, and David R. Dance "Observer performance and radiographic technique factors in digital mammography", Proc. SPIE 4686, Medical Imaging 2002: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment, (12 April 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.462668

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