title: Diagnostic quality of mammograms obtained with a new low-radiation-dose dual-screen and dual-emulsion film combination.
abstract: We evaluated the image quality of mammograms made by using a new dual-screen, dual-emulsion film combination (Kodak Min-R Fast screen, T-Mat Mll film) that permits reduction of radiation exposure by approximately 50% when compared with a standard single-screen, single-emulsion film system (Kodak Min-R screen, OM-1 film). This new film has been improved when compared with earlier T-Mat M film, including the introduction of an inert dye to reduce light crossover to essentially 0%. Mammogram pairs made with the dual-emulsion film combination and the standard single-emulsion film combination were obtained in 50 patients otherwise undergoing routine mammography. The image pairs were randomized and evaluated by three radiologists who used a three-point scale (better, same, or worse). Each pair was evaluated with regard to parenchymal contrast, sharpness, and latitude, as well as the number and sharpness of calcifications (n = 19) and sharpness of masses (n = 12) when present. All three observers found the dual-emulsion film combination to be better than or the same as the standard with regard to parenchymal sharpness (94-100%), the number and sharpness of calcifications (98-100%), and sharpness of masses (100%). Two observers found the dual-emulsion film combination to be significantly worse (p less than .05) than the standard with respect to parenchymal contrast (72%, 86%), and all three observers rated it significantly worse for film latitude (14 to 42%). Our results suggest that this new dual-emulsion film combination that allows mammography to be performed with less radiation exposure can be used without loss of image quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center, NY 10021.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wojtasek
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Teixidor
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Govoni
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Gareen
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008961:Models, Structural; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011897:Random Allocation; D014962:X-Ray Film; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens