A Measure of Regional Mammographic Masking Based on the CDMAM Phantom

摘要

Detectability of invasive cancerous lesions in mammography is diminished in breasts with dense and complex fibroglandular tissue. If masking were locally quantified in mammograms, radiologists could potentially use this information to clear the region using targeted adjuvant screening techniques. We present a method to quantify localized masking using a model observer to detect virtual objects of varying thickness and size convoluted into the clinical mammo-gram. Contrast detail curves are used to create an Image Quality Factor (IQF) at high resolution throughout the breast. We report on preliminary findings of how IQF is related to measures of breast density and textural complexity in a cohort of women who experienced screening detected and interval (masked) cancers. This measure of masking using a localized contrast detail curve approach should provide a means to target adjuvant screening resources for faster and more effective determination of cancer status for women with dense breast.