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Portrait of Daniel Förnvik. Photo

Daniel Förnvik

Associate professor

Portrait of Daniel Förnvik. Photo

Comparison between software volumetric breast density estimates in breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography images in a large public screening cohort

Author

  • Daniel Förnvik
  • Hannie Förnvik
  • Andreas Fieselmann
  • Kristina Lång
  • Hanna Sartor

Summary, in English

Objectives: To compare software estimates of volumetric breast density (VBD) based on breast tomosynthesis (BT) projections to those based on digital mammography (DM) images in a large screening cohort, the Malmö Breast Tomosynthesis Screening Trial (MBTST). Methods: DM and BT images of 9909 women (enrolled 2010–2015) were retrospectively analysed with prototype software to estimate VBD. Software calculation is based on a physics model of the image acquisition process and incorporates the effect of masking in DM based on accumulated dense tissue areas. VBD (continuously and categorically) was compared between BT [central projection (mediolateral oblique view (MLO)] and two-view DM, and with radiologists’ BI-RADS density 4th ed. scores. Agreement and correlation were investigated with weighted kappa (κ), Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r), and Bland–Altman analysis. Results: There was a high correlation (r = 0.83) between VBD in DM and BT and substantial agreement between the software breast density categories [observed agreement, 61.3% and 84.8%; κ = 0.61 and ĸ = 0.69 for four (a/b/c/d) and two (fat involuted vs. dense) density categories, respectively]. There was moderate agreement between radiologists’ BI-RADS scores and software density categories in DM (ĸ = 0.55) and BT (ĸ = 0.47). Conclusions: In a large public screening setting, we report a substantial agreement between VBD in DM and BT using software with special focus on masking effect. This automated and objective mode of measuring VBD may be of value to radiologists and women when BT is used as the primary breast cancer screening modality. Key Points: • There was a high correlation between continuous volumetric breast density in DM and BT.• There was substantial agreement between software breast density categories (four groups) in DM and BT; with clinically warranted binary software breast density categories, the agreement increased markedly.• There was moderate agreement between radiologists’ BI-RADS scores and software breast density categories in DM and BT.

Department/s

  • BioCARE: Biomarkers in Cancer Medicine improving Health Care, Education and Innovation
  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö

Publishing year

2019-01

Language

English

Pages

330-336

Publication/Series

European Radiology

Volume

29

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Radiology and Medical Imaging

Keywords

  • Breast neoplasms
  • Diagnostic imaging
  • Digital breast tomosynthesis
  • Mammography
  • Mass screening

Status

Published

Research group

  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0938-7994