The Clinical Efficacy of Digitized Film-Screen Mammograms

Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in interpretation between film-screen mammograms (FSMs) and digitized FSMs (DFSMs). Materials and Methods: Samples included a randomly selected group of 100 patients with mammograms, all of which were digitized to digital data. Each mammogram included the 2 standard craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique films. All of the mammograms were scanned using a digitizer, and then transferred onto a Picture Archiving and Communication System server. All of the FSMs and DFSMs were interpreted by 2 specialized radiologists in terms of the lesion location, characteristics, and Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). The reading sessions for each of the 2 groups of mammograms were separated by a period of 4weeks. Results: The results showed there was no difference in the BIRADS, location, or characteristics of microcalcifications and tumors between FSMs and DFSMs. Results of the interpretation between the 2 radiologists were similar with no significant differences. Conclusions: The efficacy of DFSMs equals that of FSMs.