ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Breast density is a significant risk factor for breast cancer and can impact the sensitivity of screening mammography. Area-based breast density measurements may not provide an accurate representation of the tissue distribution, therefore volumetric breast density (VBD) measurements are preferred. Dual-energy mammography enables volumetric measurements without additional assumptions about breast shape. In this work we evaluated the performance of a dual-energy decomposition technique for determining VBD by applying it to virtual anthropomorphic phantoms. METHODS: The dual-energy decomposition formalism was used to quantify VBD on simulated dual-energy images of anthropomorphic virtual phantoms with known tissue distributions. We simulated 150 phantoms with volumes ranging from 50 to 709 mL and VBD ranging from 15% to 60%. Using these results, we validated a correction for the presence of skin and assessed the method's intrinsic bias and variability. As a proof of concept, the method was applied to 14 sets of clinical dual-energy images, and the resulting breast densities were compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements. RESULTS: Virtual phantom VBD measurements exhibited a strong correlation (Pearson's r > 0.95 $r > 0.95$ ) with nominal values. The proposed skin correction eliminated the variability due to breast size and reduced the bias in VBD to a constant value of -2%. Disagreement between clinical VBD measurements using MRI and dual-energy mammography was under 10%, and the difference in the distributions was statistically non-significant. VBD measurements in both modalities had a moderate correlation (Spearman's ρ $\rho \ $ = 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Our results in virtual phantoms indicate that the material decomposition method can produce accurate VBD measurements if the presence of a third material (skin) is considered. The results from our proof of concept showed agreement between MRI and dual-energy mammography VBD. Assessment of VBD using dual-energy images could provide complementary information in dual-energy mammography and tomosynthesis examinations.
Subject(s)
Breast Density , Breast Neoplasms , Mammography , Phantoms, Imaging , Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection , Humans , Mammography/methods , Female , Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection/methods , Breast/diagnostic imaging , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Algorithms , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methodsABSTRACT
Desde el comienzo de la pandemia de Covid-19 los servi-cios de prevención de cáncer de mama han sido aplazados gravemente. Esta acción provocó la reducción en el número acumulado de mastografías de detección a nivel mundial e incrementó las disparidades en salud, sobre todo entre las mujeres vulnerables. Si bien la evidencia que respalda las es-trategias para rescatar el tamizaje con mastografía en la fase de resolución de la pandemia no es suficiente, hay algunas consideraciones pragmáticas que pueden guiar su recupera-ción y garantizar su continuidad. Una de estas estrategias es prever los retrasos en el tamizaje y abordarlos a través de programas seguros que se alineen con la situación epidemio-lógica actual. Las acciones planteadas en el presente ensayo están en consonancia con las iniciativas internacionales de garantizar la continuidad de los programas de tamizaje de cáncer de mama en atención a que el cuidado de las mujeres sea una acción prioritaria, continua y permanente.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , COVID-19 , COVID-19/epidemiology , Early Detection of Cancer , Female , Humans , PandemicsABSTRACT
Resumen: Desde el comienzo de la pandemia de Covid-19 los servicios de prevención de cáncer de mama han sido aplazados gravemente. Esta acción provocó la reducción en el número acumulado de mastografías de detección a nivel mundial e incrementó las disparidades en salud, sobre todo entre las mujeres vulnerables. Si bien la evidencia que respalda las estrategias para rescatar el tamizaje con mastografía en la fase de resolución de la pandemia no es suficiente, hay algunas consideraciones pragmáticas que pueden guiar su recuperación y garantizar su continuidad. Una de estas estrategias es prever los retrasos en el tamizaje y abordarlos a través de programas seguros que se alineen con la situación epidemiológica actual. Las acciones planteadas en el presente ensayo están en consonancia con las iniciativas internacionales de garantizar la continuidad de los programas de tamizaje de cáncer de mama en atención a que el cuidado de las mujeres sea una acción prioritaria, continua y permanente.
Abstract: Prolonged delays in breast cancer screening related to the Covid-19 pandemic may lead to delayed diagnoses, poor health consequences, and an increase in cancer disparities among women already experiencing health inequities. There is a void in empirical high-quality evidence to support a specific strategy for administering cancer screening during a pandemic and its resolution phase, but several pragmatic considerations can help guide its recovery and ensure its continuity. One of these strategies is to address the backlogs in the diagnostic and follow-up of breast cancer, designing programs that align with the current epidemiological situation. Here, we present some approaches for the generation of breast cancer detection programs which embody recommendations and obligations to overcome the SARS-CoV-2. With this initiative, we reinforce our commitment to advance health care by ensuring more women have access to preventive care.
