Breast percent density: Estimation on digital mammograms and central tomosynthesis projections

Predrag R. Bakic, Ann Katherine Carton, Despina Kontos, Cuiping Zhang, Andrea B. Troxel, Andrew D.A. Maidment

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate inter- and intrareader agreement in breast percent density (PD) estimation on clinical digital mammograms and central digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) projection images. Materials and Methods: This HIPAA-compliant study had institutional review board approval; all patients provided informed consent. Breast PD estimation was performed on the basis of anonymized digital mammograms and central DBT projections in 39 women (mean age, 51 years; range, 31-80 years). All women had recently detected abnormalities or biopsyproved cancers. PD was estimated by three experienced readers on the mediolateral oblique views of the contralateral breasts by using software; each reader repeated the estimation after 2 months. Spearman correlations of interand intrareader and intermodality PD estimates, as well as κ statistics between categoric PD estimates, were computed. Results: High correlation (ρ = 0.91) was observed between PD estimates on digital mammograms and those on central DBT projections, averaged over all estimations; the corresponding κ coefficient (0.79) indicated substantial agreement. Mean interreader agreement for PD estimation on central DBT projections (ρ = 0.85 ± 0.05 [standard deviation]) was significantly higher (P < .01) than that for PD estimation on digital mammograms (ρ = 0.75 ± 0.05); the corresponding κ coefficients indicated substantial (κ = 0.65 ± 0.12) and moderate (κ = 0.55 ± 0.14) agreement for central DBT projections and digital mammograms, respectively. Conclusion: High correlation between PD estimates on digital mammograms and those on central DBT projections suggests the latter could be used until a method for PD estimation based on three-dimensional reconstructed images is introduced. Moreover, clinical PD estimation is possible with reduced radiation dose, as each DBT projection was acquired by using about 22% of the dose for a single mammographic projection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)40-49
Number of pages10
JournalRadiology
Volume252
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009 Jul
Externally publishedYes

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Medical Engineering

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