Original scientific paper
Computer-Aided Evaluation of Radiologist’s Reproducibility and Subjectivity in Mammographic Density Assessment
Ilijan Tomaš
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia
Zdenka Kotoromanović
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia
Nenad Belaj
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia
Damir Margaretić
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia
Zdravko Ivezić
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Radiology, Osijek, Croatia
Miroslav Katić
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, Department of Physics, Osijek, Croatia
Lada Zibar
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Clinic of Internal Medicine, Osijek, Croatia
Dario Faj
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia
Damir Štimac
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Radiology, Osijek, Croatia
Mate Matić
; University »Josip Juraj Strossmayer«, University Hospital Osijek, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
Mammographic density is an independent risk of breast cancer. This study has evaluated the radiologists’ repro- ducibility and subjectivity in breast density estimation and in order to decrease the radiologists’ subjective errors the computer software was developed. The very good reproducibility existed in the strong correlation with the first and the second mammogram assessment after three month period for each radiologist (correlation coefficient 0.73–1, p<0.001). The strong correlation was present in the case of all 5 radiologists when compared among themselves and compared with software aided MDEST-Mammographic Density Estimation (correlation coefficient 0.651–0.777, p<0.001). Detected dif- ferences in glandular tissue percentage determination occurred in the case of two experienced radiologists, out of 5 (one radiologist with more than 5 year experience and one with more than 10 year experience, p<0.01), but in the case of breast type determination (American College of Radiology-ACR I-IV), the detected difference occurred in one radiologist with the least experience (less than 5 years, p<0.001). It can be concluded that the estimation of glandular tissue percent- age in breast density is rather subjective method, especially if it is expressed with absolute percentage, but the determina- tion of type of breast (ARCI-IV) depends on the radiologist’s experience. This study showed that software aided determi- nation of glandular tissue percentage and breast type can be of a great benefit in the case of less experienced radiologists.
Keywords
mammography; breast density; subjectivity; software
Hrčak ID:
118350
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2013.
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