Microcalcifications versus artifacts: initial evaluation of a new ultrasound image processing technique to identify breast microcalcifications in a screening population.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2014
Abstract
A new commercial image processing technique (MicroPure, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Tustin, CA, USA) that identifies breast microcalcifications was evaluated at the time of patients' annual screening mammograms. Twenty women scheduled for annual screening mammography were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent bilateral outer-upper-quadrant real-time dual gray scale ultrasound and MicroPure imaging using an Aplio XG scanner (Toshiba). MicroPure combines non-linear imaging and speckle suppression to mark suspected calcifications as white spots in a blue overlay image. Four independent and blinded readers analyzed digital clips to determine the presence or absence of microcalcifications and artifacts. The presence of microcalcifications determined by readers was not significantly different from that of mammography (p = 0.57). However, the accuracy was low overall (52%) and also in younger women (<50 >years, 54%). In conclusion, although microcalcifications can be identified using MicroPure imaging, this method is not currently appropriate for a screening population and should be used in more focused applications.
Volume
40
Issue
9
First Page
2321
Last Page
2324
ISSN
1879-291X
Published In/Presented At
Machado, P., Eisenbrey, J. R., Cavanaugh, B., & Forsberg, F. (2014). Microcalcifications versus artifacts: initial evaluation of a new ultrasound image processing technique to identify breast microcalcifications in a screening population. Ultrasound in medicine & biology, 40(9), 2321–2324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2014.04.008
Disciplines
Diagnosis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Radiology
PubMedID
25023105
Department(s)
Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Imaging
Document Type
Article