title: Computer-aided evaluation of radiologist's reproducibility and subjectivity in mammographic density assessment.
abstract: Mammographic density is an independent risk of breast cancer. This study has evaluated the radiologists' reproducibility and subjectivity in breast density estimation and in order to decrease the radiologists' subjective errors the computer software was developed. The very good reproducibility existed in the strong correlation with the first and the second mammogram assessment after three month period for each radiologist (correlation coefficient 0.73-1, p < 0.001). The strong correlation was present in the case of all 5 radiologists when compared among themselves and compared with software aided MDEST-Mammographic Density Estimation (correlation coefficient 0.651-0.777, p < 0.001). Detected differences in glandular tissue percentage determination occurred in the case of two experienced radiologists, out of 5 (one radiologist with more than 5 year experience and one with more than 10 year experience, p < 0.01), but in the case of breast type determination (American College of Radiology-ACR I-IV), the detected difference occurred in one radiologist with the least experience (less than 5 years, p < 0.001). It can be concluded that the estimation of glandular tissue percentage in breast density is rather subjective method, especially if it is expressed with absolute percentage, but the determination of type of breast (ARCI-IV) depends on the radiologist's experience. This study showed that software aided determination of glandular tissue percentage and breast type can be of a great benefit in the case of less experienced radiologists.
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia. ilijant@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ilijan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tomas
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kotoromanović
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Belaj
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Margaretić
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Radiology, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zdravko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ivezić
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Department of Physics, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katić
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Clinic of Internal Medicine, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Lada
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zibar
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faj
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Radiology, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stimac
authors.affiliation: University Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mate
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matić
mesh_terms: D000071060:Breast Density; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000002:abnormalities*; D011871:Radiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000078329:Workforce