Technical challenges in generalizing calibration techniques for breast density measurements

Purpose We are developing a calibration methodology for full‐field digital mammography (FFDM). Calibration compensates for image acquisition technique influences on the pixel representation, ideally producing improved inter‐image breast density estimates. This approach relies on establishing references with rigid breast tissue‐equivalent phantoms (BTEs) and requires an accurate estimate of the compressed breast thickness because the system readout is nominal. There is also an attenuation mismatch between adipose breast tissue and the adipose BTE that was noted in our previous work. It is referred to as the “attenuation anomaly” and addressed in this report. The objectives are to evaluate methods to correct for the compressed breast thickness and compensate for the attenuation anomaly.