title: Dedicated Three-dimensional Breast Computed Tomography: Lesion Characteristic Perception by Radiologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess radiologist confidence in the characterization of suspicious breast lesions with a dedicated three-dimensional breast computed tomography (DBCT) system in comparison to diagnostic two-dimensional digital mammography (dxDM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty women were recruited who were to undergo a breast biopsy for a Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 or 5 lesion evaluated with dxDM in this Institutional Review Board-approved study. The enrolled subjects underwent imaging of the breast(s) of concern using DBCT. Seven radiologists reviewed the cases. Each reader compared DBCT to the dxDM and was asked to specify the lesion type and BI-RADS score for each lesion and modality. They also compared lesion characteristics: Shape for masses or morphology for calcifications; and margins for masses or distribution for calcifications between the modalities using confidence scores (0-100).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four biopsied lesions were included in this study: 17 (70.8%) masses and 7 (29.2%) calcifications. Eight (33.3%) lesions were malignant, and 16 (66.7%) were benign. Across all lesions, there was no significant difference in the margin/distribution (Δ = -0.99, P = 0.84) and shape/morphology (Δ = -0.10, P = 0.98) visualization confidence scores of DBCT in relation to dxDM. However, analysis by lesion type showed a statistically significant increase in reader shape (Δ =11.34, P = 0.013) and margin (Δ =9.93, P = 0.023) visualization confidence with DBCT versus dxDM for masses and significant decrease in reader morphology (Δ = -29.95, P = 0.001) and distribution (Δ = -28.62, P = 0.002) visualization confidence for calcifications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reader confidence in the characterization of suspicious masses is significantly improved with DBCT, but reduced for calcifications. Further study is needed to determine whether this technology can be used for breast cancer screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510, USA.
authors.forename: Cherie Marie
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kuzmiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Elodia B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510, USA.
authors.forename: Donglin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tuttle
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510, USA.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steed
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Etta D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Pisano
keywords: Breast cancer; computed tomography; diagnostic imaging; mammography