Does an increase in compression force really improve visual image quality in mammography? An initial investigation

Mercer, CE; Hogg, P; Cassidy, SF; Denton, E

Abstract

Objective: Literature speculates that visual image quality (IQ) and compression force levels may be
directly related. This small study investigates whether a relationship exists between compression force
levels and visual IQ.
Method: To investigate how visual IQ varies with different levels of compression force, 39 clients were
selected over a 6 year screening period that had received markedly different amounts of compression
force on each of their three sequential screens. Images for the 3 screening episodes for all women were
scored visually using 3 different IQ scales.
Results: Correlation coefficients between the 3 IQ scales were positive and high (0.82, 0.9 and 0.85). For
the scales, the IQ scores their correlation does not vary significantly, even though different compression
levels had been applied. Kappa IQ scale 1: 0.92, 0.89, 0.89. ANOVA IQ scale 2: p = 0.98, p = 0.55, p = 0.56.
ICC IQ scale 3: 0.97, 0.93, 0.91. Conclusion: For the 39 clients there is no difference in visual IQ when different amounts of compression are applied. We believe that further work should be conducted into compression force and image quality as ‘higher levels’ of compression force may not be justified in the attainment of suitable visual image
quality.

Citation

Mercer, C., Hogg, P., Cassidy, S., & Denton, E. (2013). Does an increase in compression force really improve visual image quality in mammography? An initial investigation. Radiography, 19(4), 363-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2013.07.002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 2, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Jul 20, 2013
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Oct 8, 2013
• Journal: Radiography
• Print ISSN: 1078-8174
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 363-365
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2013.07.002
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2013.07.002
• Related Public URLs: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/radiography/