title: [Observations of deterioration of photo-stimulable phosphor plates used in digital mammography and its effects on mammography diagnoses].
abstract: We noted that breast-like artifacts occur in photo-stimulable phosphor plates (PSPs) used for long periods in digital mammography systems. This prompted us to investigate the effects on mammography diagnoses of these artifacts. Our study took the form of a comparison between the images generated by a long-term use PSP (four years use) and a short-term use PSP. First, an acrylic phantom and an in-house-made phantom for visual evaluation were imaged using X-ray PSPs under the same exposure conditions. They were then scanned under the same conditions to generate images. The mean values of the digital signals were measured in the 35 locations of region of interest present in the images of the acrylic phantom. The images of the in-house-made phantom were then visually evaluated by five certified experts, who examined 22 clinical images taken with both PSPs while referring to a visual evaluation scale. Differences were detected in all the evaluated items: the short-term use PSP gave a higher rate than the long-term use PSP (p<0.01), suggesting that long-term use PSPs might adversely affect the results of diagnostic mammography.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Komazawa University.
authors.forename: Mitsuyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Syun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurosawa
authors.forename: Kohki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Hisaya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Tugunori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010710:Phosphates; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates