%0 Journal Article
%T Does Computed Mammography Make Any Difference? A Preliminary Report on First CR Mammography Installation in IRAN
%A M. Fatehi
%A M. Mozafari
%A M. Rahmani
%A M. Tehrai
%J Iranian Journal of Radiology
%D 2007
%I Tehran University of Medical Sciences
%X Digital image acquisition using CR technology is po-tentially a cost-effective way to go filmless using the already installed x-ray systems and the same techni-cal background from the technologists' point of view. It eliminates dark room and has tremendous effect on workflow in the department. In those imaging centers where direct digital mam-mography installation is not justified, CR can be a shortcut to achieve a digital image acquisition, which is an inevitable prerequisite to filmless radiology. At the same time, superior modern technology will change image quality in a way that may also affect the radiologist's performance and the clinician's satis-faction. Although the overall improvement of breast imaging will be affected by availability of PACS and image management equipment and network, it will make benefit from CAD technology, which is one of the promising fields of actual decision-making support in medical imaging. Telemammography and consulta-tions are made easy by digital images produced by CR mammography. The experience of 220 consecutive mammography studies using CR technology will be presented in terms of pathologic findings, comparison of image quality in patients undergoing repeat or follow-up mammograms, superiority in detection of dense pa-renchyma and skin or soft tissue components, diffi-culties of microcalcification detection and artifacts, department management issues regarding archive, reproducibility, digital magnification and cost-effectiveness considering parallel CR installation for studies other than mammography and problems aris-ing from technical support by the vendor.
%U http://journals.tums.ac.ir/PdfMed.aspx?pdf_med=/upload_files/pdf/3125.pdf&manuscript_id=3125