Realizing the Benefits of Full-Field Digital Mammography The Role of the Film Digitizer

Film digitizers used for mammography must deliver superior image quality. Software also must support unique mammography requirements and, in highvolume applications, software and hardware must work together to integrate sophisticated batch film feeding capabilities. Software is a vital component that reduces steps in the workflow, which for busy centers add up to significant usage cost over time. Armed with the right hardware and software, appropriate digital archive storage space, and sufficient user knowledge, a film digitizing solution for prior images can have a positive impact on the transition...

digital mammography systems.5 The ability to store and retrieve images electronically also facilitates the use of off-site screening centers. Significant workflow issues, however, accompany the need for mammographers to review and compare current digital mammography studies with prior analog films.5 Mammographers have limited time for reading mammography exams, and the need to move from digital workstation to light box and back is cumbersome and time-consuming, creating a less-than-ideal clinical environment.6,7 Hybrid viewing also raises issues of quality and consistency, partly due to incompatible...

high quality level. Digitizers used for mammography must support a small spot size (50 microns or less), in order to see the shape and arrangement of various microcalcifications. There is debate over what bit depth resolution should be used for digitizing mammography films—12- or 16-bit systems both are acceptable. VIDAR offers two film digitizers for this application. (See Table 1) The DiagnosticPRO Advantage offers a 44-micron spot size selection and 12-bit imaging output, as well as up to 4.0 OD, satisfying the imaging demands of the mammographer. By using software supporting DICOM MG, technicians...

so that mammography-specific hanging protocols can automatically place prior studies in the proper order and orientation for the mammographer. Mid-Volume, Mammography Specific In contrast, mid-volume centers with file rooms dedicated to mammography benefit from mammography-specific film digitizers with an increased optical density range such as VIDAR’s CAD PRO Advantage. (See Table 2) As with low-volume centers, digitizers that support the DICOM MG standard are critical for these sites The CAD PRO, a device specific to mammography, offers a higher optical density (up to 4.2 OD) and bit depth...

DiagnosticPRO Advantage, but can only accommodate original mammography images. This increased optical density is ideal for mammography studies, which tend to be darker than other radiography studies. In addition, the CAD PRO Advantage digitizes a four-film study in less than two minutes, enhancing speed and efficiency. VIDAR’s ClinicalExpress film acquisition software for mammography is one of a limited number of software solutions that meet the needs of mid-volume centers. These software vendors also take advantage of the excellent speed, high reliability, and maintenance-free operation of VIDAR’s...

a lossless compression approved by DICOM, approximately 40% compression can be achieved, for a file size of about 42 MB for a 24 x 30 cm film, and 25 MB for an 18 x 24 cm film. Some applications adjust the spot size of the digital image or allow use of higher levels of compression, resulting in smaller files. The mammography knowledge of the person performing the digitizing also plays an important role in the success of a program. With PACS, far less skill is required—simply select an appropriate resolution, scan, and send. For mammography, each individual film must be labeled, and the skill...

References 1. Pisano ED, Gatsonis C, Hendrick E, et al. Diagnostic performance of digital versus film mammography for breast-cancer screening. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:1773–1783. 2. North American X-ray Mammography Markets. New York, NY: Frost & Sullivan; 2007. 3. Mammography. MQSA Facility Score Card. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/CDHR/MAMMOGRAPHY/ scorecard-statistics.html. Accessed Aug. 16, 2007. 4. European Women’s Healthcare Imaging Markets. New York, NY: Frost & Sullivan; 2007. 5. Fratt L. Lessons from pioneers—digital mammography. What you need to do it right. Health Imaging & IT. 2005;3:30–34....