Digital mammographic artifacts on full-field systems: what are they and how do I fix them?

The recent introduction of digital mammography represents a significant technologic advance in breast imaging. However, many radiologists and technologists are unfamiliar with artifacts that are commonly seen with this modality, and recognizing these artifacts is critical for optimizing image quality. Commonly encountered artifacts include patient-related artifacts (motion artifact, antiperspirant artifact, thin breast artifact), hardware-related artifacts (field inhomogeneity, detector-associated artifacts, collimator misalignment, underexposure, grid lines, grid misplacement, vibration artifact), and software processing artifacts ("breast-within-a-breast" artifact, vertical processing bars, loss of edge, high-density artifacts).

Massachusetts radiology resident attitudes toward mammography.

Purpose: To investigate and document the attitudes toward careers in breast imaging among Massachusetts radiology residents.

Method: Written surveys were distributed to all senior radiology residents in the state asking whether they were interested in pursuing a fellowship in breast imaging or whether they planned to interpret mammograms as part of their future practice. If they were not interested, residents were asked why.

Mammography pain in women treated conservatively for breast cancer.

In this study, pain during mammography in women treated conservatively for breast cancer was examined. It studied pain intensity and its relation to a variety of demographic, medical, and pain coping variables as well as to objective measures of breast compression. Ninety-nine women, treated with lumpectomy (with or without radiation) and undergoing follow-up screening mammography, were asked about strategies they use to cope with everyday pain and then were asked to report pain experienced during the mammogram.

Reminder letter, tailored stepped-care, and self-choice comparison for repeat mammography.

Background: The main benefits of mammography come from regular on-schedule screening. However, few studies have examined interventions to achieve repeat screening.

Setting And Participants: Participants were women aged 50 to 74, recruited through one setting in Rhode Island and another in North Carolina.