Skip to main content
  • Poster presentation
  • Published:

Accuracy of breast cancer detection with full-field digital mammography and integral computer-aided detection correlated with breast density as assessed by a new automated volumetric breast density measurement system

Purpose

To assess the diagnostic performance of computer-aided detection (CAD) for full-field digital mammography (FFDM) correlated with breast density assessed by an automated breast density measurement system (Hologic, Quantra) in breast cancers and age-matched healthy controls.

Materials and methods

Two hundred breast cancers imaged with FFDM and 200 age-matched healthy controls were evaluated retrospectively using CAD. A CAD mark was scored true-positive if it correctly indicated a malignant lesion. All other CAD marks were considered false. CAD sensitivity and specificity were calculated and correlated with mammographic breast density (%).

Results

CAD correctly identified 157 of the 200 cancers, a sensitivity of 79%. Sensitivity was suggestively but nonsignificantly lower with increased density (P = 0.09). In those cancer cases with density at or below the median of 20%, sensitivity was 82%, compared with 75% in those with density above the median. The presence of one or more false CAD prompts was suggestively but not significantly more likely in controls than cases (87% vs. 80%, P = 0.06). The number of false prompts was significantly higher in controls (average 3.6 vs. 2.6, P <0.001). False prompts were significantly less likely with higher density (P = 0.008). False prompts were present in 86% of cases and controls with density at or below the median, and in 81% of those with density above the median.

Conclusions

Increased breast density is significantly associated with higher specificity of CAD, and there is suggestive evidence that it is also associated with lower sensitivity.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pinker, K., Perry, N., Milner, S. et al. Accuracy of breast cancer detection with full-field digital mammography and integral computer-aided detection correlated with breast density as assessed by a new automated volumetric breast density measurement system. Breast Cancer Res 12 (Suppl 3), P4 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr2657

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr2657

Keywords