Use of Automated Breast Sonography - Essay Example

By this, the proponents would want to find out the comparable diagnostic reliability between the three-dimensional automated breast sonography and MRI on benign and malignant breast lesions using the same morphologic criteria. In other words, the study seeks to investigate the diagnostic reliability of the three-dimensional automated breast sonography by comparing it to the actual data or detection capability of commonly used MRI. A study is, therefore, a significant approach that could help us realize a different important view and breakthrough when we consider breast cancer detection, by using new important methods that may further impose higher reliability detection.   

In the review of literature, the authors first emphasized the ranking of breast cancer based on the epidemiology in the US, particularly in 2010. Next to this, they tried to build up the idea concerning the clinical acceptability of automated breast sonography, it's being FDA approved diagnostic tool but not yet a clinically acceptable tool for mammographically dense breasts. They referenced FDA Radiologic Devices Panel as the one paving the way for the approval of automated breast sonography particularly in screening women with dense breast parenchyma. They also referenced the research study of Chou, Chen and Chang comparing the detection rates of automated breast sonography and handheld sonography. The findings of the study reveal that there was no statistically significant difference illustrated in the results. However, Giuliano and Giuliano have further pointed out some significant practical advantages when employing automated breast sonography particularly if it has to be initiated to large screening populations.

The proponents used an automated breast sonography system that is capable of scanning the breast and creating a review of the image for manipulating volumetric data. This system is capable of providing 3D images of volumetric data that could be analyzed in different formats and varying tomographic slices. In other words, the actual method involved after capturing the image includes imaging processing to ensure the actual image of the required details in the actual diagnostic investigation. There were 24 female screening breast patients employed in the study and underwent both automated breast sonography and MRI performed by qualified and expert sonographers and certified radiologists. In other words, the results were interpreted by experts in the field of sonography and radiology. The actual data, therefore, consist of reliable information as far as the experts’ participation in the actual research study is concerned. In other words, there could be the reliability of information for the actual output of automated breast sonography and MRI.

In screening mammography, breast density according to the proponents is a significant limitation as it can obscure small masses. This at some point could result in a more challenging point to detect breast cancer in the early stages with mammography. According to the proponents, automated breast sonography is less affected by breast density, which means there is a good opportunity to incorporate a significant level of detection. However, this claim may not be that strong, as the proponent tried to suggest that there might be no significant advantage over handheld sonography when it comes to detection rate. Instead, they pointed out that the remarkable practical advantages may be evident when it is applied to large screening populations. However, the proponents also stated that compared to handheld sonography automated breast sonography may at some certain level lack the ability to present the detail of some important information of masses, although its detection rate is highly comparable to traditional mammography. MRI may be costly, which could be another advantage of automated breast sonography. However, in general, the proponents observed a good comparable diagnostic reliability between automated breast sonography and MRI. This implies that these two methods may be complementary diagnostic modalities in the mammographically dense breast screening population. The study, therefore, presents remarkable information for an expert sonographer to take into account before consideration of practical advantages together with the issue of diagnostic reliability.

Imaging processing is vital to the determination of diagnostic reliability and comparability of automated breast sonography and MRI. The chosen number of respondents may not create much impact concerning the reliability of the output. However, what is certain is the actual creation of image output that was able to undergo subjective judgement just to determine comparability of diagnostic reliability. For this matter, since there is remarkable proof to justify the comparability of automated breast sonography and MRI, the actual study brings a remarkable reputation for further consideration in the future of mammography and breast cancer detection with experts.