Computer-aided detection in mammography

Mammographic film reading for breast screening is a highly demanding visual task involving a detailed visual search for signs of abnormality, which are infrequent and often small or subtle. False-negative cases, in which a cancer is missed by a film reader, are known to occur. Although double reading has proved effective in reducing errors, there is a national shortage of film readers in the screening programme, and recent extensions to the programme have exacerbated this problem. The use of computer-aided detection (CAD) systems could potentially provide a solution by improving individual performance to the extent that double reading is no longer necessary. In this paper, we describe how CAD works, review the relevant literature and examine the strengths and weaknesses of the approach. © 2004 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.