The comparison between synthetic mammography reconstructed from digital breast tomosynthesis and full-field digital mammograms in the detection and assessment of Calcification

Abstract

To compare the observer agreement of calcification detection and assessment on synthetic mammography reconstructed to full-field digital mammograms. This retrospective study included 68 patients who undertaken screening mammogram. For each patient, FFDM and DBT were performed at Songklanakarind Hospital. Two-experienced radiologists retrospectively reviewed SM and FFDM, in separate sessions, to detect micro-calcifications and provide a BIRADS assessment. The kappa of SM and FFDM in radiologist1 in type of calcification was 0.49 (0.29-0.68), type of benign was 0.49 (0.29-0.49), type of suspicious was 0.17 (-0.06-0.42). The kappa of SM and FFDM in radiologist2 in type of calcification was 0.74 (0.61-0.87), type of benign was 0.39 (0.2-0.57), type of suspicious was 0.26 (0.11-0.4). The kappa of radiologist1 and radiologist2 of FFDM in type of calcification was 0.49 (0.29-0.68), type of benign was 0.39 (0.2-0.58), type of suspicious was 0.42 (0.24-0.59). The kappa of radiologist1 and radiologist2 of SM in type of calcification was 0.82 (0.72-0.93), type of benign was 0.49 (0.32-0.66), type of suspicious was 0.14 (0.02-0.31). In conclusion, the SM performances are similar as FFDM for detection type of calcification in diagnostic mammography screening whether the radiologist should concern about the image contrast and image reconstruction of SM.