The automatic computer detection of subtle calcifications in radiographically dense breasts

Abstract

A preliminary study has been conducted into the automatic detection of extremely small subtle calcifications occurring in radiographically dense breasts. Improvements were made to an algorithm described by the authors in a previous publication (ibid., vol.35, p.1111-18, 1990) in an attempt to improve that algorithm's detection rates for this type of calcification. The new enhanced algorithm has improved true positive detection rates but still has an unacceptable false negative rate. In order to improve the true positive detection rates for this type of calcification the false positive detection rates of all types of calcification would rise to an ineffective level. The preliminary results reported indicate how difficult the detection of extremely subtle calcifications is. Further work using a larger database of high resolution, high quality digital mammograms (currently not available) is clearly required for the detection of these calcifications.