Impact of Breast Density on Computer-Aided Detection for Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE. Our aim was to determine whether breast density affects the performance of a computer-aided detection (CAD) system for the detection of breast cancer.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Nine hundred six sequential mammographically detected breast cancers and 147 normal screening mammograms from 18 facilities were classified by mammographic density. BI-RADS 1 and 2 density cases were classified as nondense breasts; BI-RADS 3 and 4 density cases were classified as dense breasts. Cancers were classified as either masses or microcalcifications. All mammograms from the cancer and normal cases were evaluated by the CAD system. The sensitivity and false-positive rates from CAD in dense and nondense breasts were evaluated and compared.RESULTS. Overall, 809 (89%) of 906 cancer cases were detected by CAD; 455/505 (90%) cancers in nondense breasts and 354/401 (88%) cancers in dense breasts were detected. CAD sensitivity was not affected by breast density (p = 0.38). Across both breast density categories, 280/296 (95%)...