title: Comparison of a flexible versus a rigid breast compression paddle: pain experience, projected breast area, radiation dose and technical image quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare pain, projected breast area, radiation dose and image quality between flexible (FP) and rigid (RP) breast compression paddles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in a Dutch mammographic screening unit (288 women). To compare both paddles one additional image with RP was made, consisting of either a mediolateral-oblique (MLO) or craniocaudal-view (CC). Pain experience was scored using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Projected breast area was estimated using computer software. Radiation dose was estimated using the model by Dance. Image quality was reviewed by three radiologists and three radiographers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in pain experience between both paddles (mean difference NRS: 0.08 ± 0.08, p = 0.32). Mean radiation dose was 4.5 % lower with FP (0.09 ± 0.01 p = 0.00). On MLO-images, the projected breast area was 0.79 % larger with FP. Paired evaluation of image quality indicated that FP removed fibroglandular tissue from the image area and reduced contrast in the clinically relevant retroglandular area at chest wall side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although FP performed slightly better in the projected breast area, it moved breast tissue from the image area at chest wall side. RP showed better contrast, especially in the retroglandular area. We therefore recommend the use of RP for standard MLO and CC views.
authors.affiliation: Dutch Reference Centre for Screening, PO Box 6873, 6503 GJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, m.broeders@lrcb.nl.
authors.forename: Mireille J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Broeders
authors.forename: Marloes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ten Voorde
authors.forename: Wouter J H
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Veldkamp
authors.forename: Ruben E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: van Engen
authors.forename: Cary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Landsveld-Verhoeven
authors.forename: Machteld N L
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: 't Jong-Gunneman
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Win
authors.forename: Kitty Droogh-de
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paap
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: den Heeten
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012984:Software