Product Info
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Exclusive “Relative Physics” Technology
By using the DICOM “For Processing” image data generated by the digital mammography system, the Volpara algorithm calculates an objective measurement of a woman’s breast density by utilizing volumetric parameters.
The first step is to compute the x-ray attenuation at each pixel, and then to convert that attenuation to an estimate of the tissue composition between that pixel and the x-ray source, that gives us a density map:
By adding up all the values in the density map, we can arrive at volume of fibroglandular tissue in cubic centimeters, volume of breast in cubic centimeters and the percentage of the breast that consists of fibroglandular tissue – the volumetric breast density. Finally, by using the BI-RADS breast density readings provided by Professor Jennifer Harvey at the University of Virginia we are able to map that volumetric breast density to a Volpara Density Grade (VDG) which is comparable to the BI-RADS density grade used in clinics today.
Clinical Integration
The Volpara Imaging Software (“Volpara”) is provided with the Matariki Dicom Server to allow a completely integrated clinical solution via DICOM networking, in exactly the same manner as computer-aided detection is typically integrated, as shown here:
Volpara can be configured to accept “For Processing” images from up to 4 x-ray devices. Once it recognizes that it has a complete study it automatically begins processing and is able to send out (to multiple destinations) both DICOM CAD SR and DICOM Secondary Capture Images with the breast density information. An example DICOM Seconday Capture Image is shown here:
The breast density information is provided per breast (by averaging the CC and MLO values), and for each patient a Volpara Density Grade (VDG) is also provided. The VDG is the result of mapping the average volumetric breast density for the woman to a BI-RADS breast density category determined by using expert opinion from the University of Virginia. The Volpara results are typically available to the radiologist within a few minutes of the last imaging study being received by Volpara.
Performance
Volpara has been validated extensively. This graph shows the volume of fibroglandular tissue in cubic centimetres as computed by Volpara from the x-rays versus the volume as estimated from breast MRI via manual segmentation of each slice:
This graph shows the relationship between Volpara and BIRADS breast density:
It is from this graph, that we determine the optimal relationship between average volumetric breast density and BI-RADS, that gives us the VDG mapping.
Volpara is multi-detector, this graph shows the breast density for the same woman imaged one year apart on a GE digital x-ray unit and a Hologic digital x-ray unit, there is a correlation of 0.93:
The Resources link of this web-page leads you to published research papers about Volpara, useful links about breast density, and Whitepapers including how Volpara is being used in Santa Rosa – Volpara is now in actual clinical use at institutes around the globe, please contact us for your nearest reference site.
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