Detection of masses and calcifications by soft-copy reading: comparison of two postprocessing algorithms for full-field digital mammography

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a commercially available postprocessing algorithm on the detection of masses and microcalcifications of breast cancer by soft-copy reading. The study included 64 digital mammograms with 16 histologically proven abnormal findings (eight masses and eight microcalcifications) and 48 normal breasts. Two image-processing algorithms were applied to the digital images, which were acquired using General Electric units. The commercially available advanced and standard postprocessed digital mammograms were evaluated in a localization receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve experiment involving seven mammography radiographers. The mean area under the ROC curve was 0.921 +/- 0.022 for the commercially available advanced postprocessed digital mammograms session and 0.904 +/- 0.026 for the standard postprocessed digital mammograms session (P = 0.1953). Observer agreement among the readers was better for the advanced postprocessed digital mammograms than for the standard postprocessed digital mammograms. During soft-copy reading, the interpretation accuracy might be influenced by the postprocessing algorithm.