title: Performance of Photon-Counting Breast Computed Tomography, Digital Mammography, and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis in Evaluating Breast Specimens.
abstract: This study compared a novel photon-counting breast computed tomography (pcBCT) system with digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) systems. For this reason, surgical specimens were examined with all three techniques and rated by three observers.
  
  
  
  A total of 30 surgical specimens were investigated with DM, DBT, and pcBCT; the associated images were shown to three experienced radiologists. Findings (22 microcalcifications and 23 mass lesions) were recorded and compared to the results of the pathological examination. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of microcalcifications and lesions were calculated and displayed using receiver operating characteristic curves.
  
  
  
  Sensitivity for microcalcifications was 82% for DM, 70% for DBT, and 85% for pcBCT. Specificity for microcalcifications was 71% for DM, 75% for DBT, and 83% for pcBCT. Sensitivity for lesions was 45% for DM, 62% for DBT, and 65% for pcBCT. Specificity for lesions was 76% for DM, 62% for DBT, and 76% for pcBCT.
  
  
  
  pcBCT showed a comparable or superior performance compared to the clinically approved DM and DBT systems. Mass lesion detectability can be increased further by the use of contrast media.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Henkestrasse 91, Erlangen 91052, Germany. Electronic address: ann-christin.roessler@imp.uni-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: Ann-Christin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rößler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Henkestrasse 91, Erlangen 91052, Germany; AB-CT GmbH, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kalender
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Henkestrasse 91, Erlangen 91052, Germany; AB-CT GmbH, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kolditz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Henkestrasse 91, Erlangen 91052, Germany; AB-CT GmbH, Erlangen, Germany; Department of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steiding
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Henkestrasse 91, Erlangen 91052, Germany.
authors.forename: Veikko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Preuss
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra Christina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brehm
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz-Wendtland
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wenkel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D017785:Photons; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
keywords: Breast computed tomography; digital breast tomosynthesis; digital mammography; photon-counting detector; specimen