Screening mammography plays a crucial role in early detection and treatment of breast cancer, significantly improving outcomes for women. Despite a few limitations, the compliance with this screening is quite high in the U.S. due to its significant public health benefits. Yet, the volume of data generated from these screenings can become overwhelming for radiologists.
Before the advent of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT or 3D mammography), mammograms were already the largest datasets in radiology departments. With DBTs, radiologists must process billions of pixels, creating an information overload. The introduction of the Transpara DBT algorithm, however, has helped alleviate this issue. This algorithm enables radiologists to save substantial amounts of time per DBT study, using the Transpara report as a roadmap for areas of concern. In fact, in unmarked (low-risk) studies, radiologists saved 26% of their time per study.
Radiologist confidence can also be compromised when dealing with dense breast tissue. Fibroglandular tissue, which contributes to breast density, is where cancer is most likely to develop. However, because cancer and fibroglandular tissue both appear white on mammograms, detecting cancer becomes more challenging as density increases. Despite these challenges, radiologists have done a remarkable job of diagnosing breast cancer, especially with the support of tools such as Transpara.
In 2023, a study by Koch et al. found that radiologists reading with Transpara experienced no decline in sensitivity regardless of breast density. This was further supported by research conducted by UCLA, which showed that Transpara detected 89% of lesions in mammograms that had actionable signs of cancer.
In conclusion, it is clear that tools such as Transpara are invaluable in the field of radiology, particularly for mammography. By providing confidence and workflow enhancements, Transpara allows radiologists to be more effective in their readings, enabling them to devote more time to patient care. Future software that aims to assist radiologists must provide the same level of assurance and organisational benefits to truly make a positive impact in the field.
