Synthetic mammography plus DBT detects microcalcifications at rates similar to FFDM
Synthetic mammography (SM) plus digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and full-field digital mammography (FFDM) have a comparable sensitivity and specificity for the detection of microcalcifications, according to new research published in Radiology.
The authors noted that utilizing SM, which consists of two-dimensional images captured during DBT, instead of FFDM can potentially shorten imaging times and reduce radiation dose by approximately 45 percent.
Respectively, they added, it’s only worth considering if the combination of SM and DBT can deliver a strong enough clinical performance.
“Although it would be desirable to substitute SM for FFDM when DBT is used at screening, it is critical to first establish that the clinical performance of SM plus DBT is noninferior to FFDM,” wrote co-author Yi-Chen Lai, MD, from National Yang-Ming University in Taipei, Taiwan, and colleagues. “Although SM has been reported to improve the conspicuity of non-calcified findings such as architectural distortion and mass spiculation relative to FFDM, it is uncertain whether SM is equivalent to FFDM for the detection of microcalcifications.”
The team studied data from 72 consecutive screening mammograms recalled due to microcalcifications from June 2015 to August 2016. All mammograms were evaluated with SM plus DBT and FFDM; four independent readers reviewed each data set.
Overall, for SM plus DBT, combined reader sensitivity was 75 percent for all microcalcifications and 94 percent for malignant microcalcifications. The combined reader specificity was 95 percent for all microcalcifications and 95 percent for malignant microcalcifications.
For FFDM, combined reader sensitivity was 80 percent for all microcalcifications and 92 percent for malignant microcalcifications. The combined reader specificity was 98 percent for all microcalcifications and 98 percent for malignant microcalcifications.
“SM plus DBT was comparable to FFDM alone in the identification of microcalcifications previously warranting recall at screening based on FFDM plus SM plus DBT findings during routine clinical care,” the authors wrote. “Further prospective reader studies with larger data sets are warranted to exclude small differences in performance.”
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.