Automated volumetric breast density estimation out of digital breast tomosynthesis data: feasibility study of a new software version

Abstract

BackgroundA new software version of VolparaDensity (Volpara Algorithm version 1.5.1) is capable of calculating volumetric breast density (VBD) using either full-field digital mammography (FFDM) or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images. In this preliminary study, we evaluated the feasibility and consistency of this new automated software.FindingsRaw data from both DBT and FFDM were acquired from women breast cancer screening at our institution between April and August 2015 using. The DBT and FFDM images obtained under a single compression were collected and VBD was measured using fully automated software. A paired t test was used to analyze differences in the VBD calculated from paired FFDM and DBT images. The correlation coefficient (R value) was calculated and p < 0.05 was considered significant. Dualmodality images were acquired in 160 women; VBD data were available for all but one. There was a significant difference in the VBD of individual breasts calculated from DBT and FFDM and when data were compared per case (<0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). There were very good to excellent correlations between data from FFDM and from DBT (R = 0.78, p < 0.0001; per breast, R = 0.89, p < 0.0001, per case, R = 0.91, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsVBD from DBT was well correlated to that from FFDM, though significant differences were observed between the two.

Breast density: why all the fuss?

“…Volpara version 1.5.1 is able to derive volumetric MD from the central projection and compressed breast thickness. A feasibility study using paired DM and DBT images obtained during one compression (136) demonstrated near perfect agreement for calculated breast volume, but small though statistically significant differences for dense volume and hence VBD. Other groups have used a similar modelling approach to derive VBD using each of the DBT projections, again with closer agreement between VBD derived from MRI and DBT than between DM and either DBT or MRI (137).…”

Estudo sobre a influência da espessura e glandularidade da mama na dose glandular média em exames de tomossíntese

“…para uma mama padrão e corrige o efeito de combinações anodo/filtro diferentes de Mo/Mo, respectivamente. O fator de conversão (c), responsável por corrigir para porcentagens de tecido adiposo e glandular diferente de 50%/50% não é utilizado, visto que o software usa a densidade específica de cada paciente no lugar de (c) [15].…”

“…Finalmente, a DVM é obtida pela razão entre o volume denso e o volume total da mama. Posteriormente, o software utiliza a DVM específica de cada paciente para cálculo da DGM de maneira individualizada [15].…”

Volumetric breast density measurement for personalized screening: accuracy, reproducibility, consistency, and agreement with visual assessment

“…Ng and Lau 7 have identified six requirements (denoted in their paper as "sanity checks") that should be fulfilled by an automated breast density measurement software: Some studies exist that validate existing software applications for automated breast density assessment. [14][15][16][17][18][19] Typical aspects assessed by these studies are accuracy (comparing measured breast density to an objective ground truth), reproducibility (see Ng and Lau's requirements 1 to 5), consistency (see Ng and Lau's requirement 6), and agreement with visual assessment (comparing classified breast density to a subjective reference).…”