What does artifact on mammogram mean?
Radiologists and mammographic technologists should be familiar with the numerous artifacts that may create pseudolesions or mask true abnormalities. An artifact is defined as any variation in mammographic density not caused by true attenuation differences in the breast (,4).
What is the most likely cause of grid line artifacts in mammography?
As at screen-film mammography, grid lines can sometimes be seen at digital mammography (,Fig 8,). This artifact may be attributed to the stopping or slowing down of grid oscillation in the bucky, causing the grid lines to be superimposed on the image.
What projections should be performed during a screening mammogram?
There are two standard mammographic projections: a mediolateral oblique (MLO) view and a craniocaudal (CC) view. Correct positioning is crucial to avoid missing lesions situated at the margins of the breast.
What are artifacts in xray?
An artifact on an image is a feature that does not correlate with the physical properties of the subject being imaged and may confound or obscure interpretation of that image. In this article, examples of artifacts from flat-panel detector–based digital radiographic systems are presented.
What are the white lines on mammogram?
Deposits of calcium in the breast are called breast calcifications. They’re common on mammograms, particularly if you’re postmenopausal. If you have calcifications, they’ll show up as white spots on the images. Macrocalcifications look like large white dots or lines.
What is mammography film?
A procedure that uses x-rays to take pictures of the inside of the breast and stores the images on x-ray film. Film mammography may be used to check for breast cancer and other changes in the breast, such as abnormal lumps, cysts, or calcifications (calcium deposits). Also called conventional mammography.
Is mammography and mammogram the same?
Mammography is specialized medical imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to see inside the breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, aids in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women.
What are the 2 standard views projections performed during a routine mammogram?
Two projections, the mediolateral oblique and craniocaudal (CC), are routinely performed.
Are you recognizing mammogram artifacts?
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.
What does hair look like on a mammogram?
For example, in mammography, hair may appear as curvilinear white lines or may simulate calcifications, especially on the craniocaudal projection 2 .
What causes the large oval artifact on the mammogram?
Failure of the collimation or illumination mirror to rotate out of the x-ray beam during exposure produces a large, well-circumscribed oval artifact on the mammogram (, Fig 30 ). The shape and intensity of this artifact vary with the mammography unit being used.
What are the different types of digital mammographic artifacts?
Digital mammographic artifacts can be divided into three categories: patient-related artifacts, hardware-related artifacts, and software processing artifacts.