AbstractID: 9947 Title: Mammography Technologies on the Horizon
Mammography is recognized as a highly effective means of screening for and diagnosing breast cancer. But many opportunities
remain for improving these processes and patient outcomes as well. Innovations that are expected to provide solutions to some of the
problems in breast imaging have been facilitated by the introduction of digital mammography. Imaging of the dense breast has been
improved by wide dynamic range detectors and automatic exposure schemes that optimize the image quality for a given patient dose.
Image processing helps improve the conspicuity of abnormalities. Tomographic methods remove the overlapping of structures that
may either obscure a lesion or mimic one. Time- and energy-difference imaging combined with contrast enhancement facilitate the
detection and characterization of lesions. Multi-modality imaging may also contribute to the ability to differentiate between benign
and malignant lesions. The presentation will focus on some of the modifications of mammography system components and system
operation that have been made to take full advantage of the capabilities provided by the advent of digital mammography. It will also
demonstrate imaging methods made practical by digital imaging that are expected to affect the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of
breast cancer.
Educational Objectives:
1. Identify opportunities for improvement in breast imaging.
2. Demonstrate how digital systems are designed to provide solutions to breast imaging problems.
3. Discuss projects in development to provide new means to improve the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer.
Conflict of Interest Statement:
John Sandrik is an employee of GE Healthcare which manufactures and sells mammographic imaging equipment.