title: Microcalcifications versus artifacts: initial evaluation of a new ultrasound image processing technique to identify breast microcalcifications in a screening population.
abstract: A new commercial image processing technique (MicroPure, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Tustin, CA, USA) that identifies breast microcalcifications was evaluated at the time of patients' annual screening mammograms. Twenty women scheduled for annual screening mammography were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent bilateral outer-upper-quadrant real-time dual gray scale ultrasound and MicroPure imaging using an Aplio XG scanner (Toshiba). MicroPure combines non-linear imaging and speckle suppression to mark suspected calcifications as white spots in a blue overlay image. Four independent and blinded readers analyzed digital clips to determine the presence or absence of microcalcifications and artifacts. The presence of microcalcifications determined by readers was not significantly different from that of mammography (p = 0.57). However, the accuracy was low overall (52%) and also in younger women (<50 years, 54%). In conclusion, although microcalcifications can be identified using MicroPure imaging, this method is not currently appropriate for a screening population and should be used in more focused applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Eisenbrey
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cavanaugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: flemming.forsberg@jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forsberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Breast; Image processing; Mammography; Microcalcifications; Ultrasound