The white, dense, part of a mammogram is a reflection of the stroma and epithelial content of the breast. The higher the density, the higher is the risk of breast cancer. Breast density can be measured through visual scores or by semi-automatic, computer aided, techniques.
In Karma, more than 3000 mammograms are collected every week and a fully automatic measuring system for mammographic density is therefore a necessity. Using the software ImageJ (http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij), and in collaboration with colleagues at Karolinska Institutet and Agency for Science, Technology and Reserch (A*STAR) in Singapore, we have previously developed an automatic measuring model of mammographic density [Eriksson, 2017].
By measurements from raw images using FDA approved software iCAD wehave now developed a new algorithm called STRATUS, which measures density on all type of images, regardless of vendor, andcontrols for non-biological differences seen in time series ofmammograms from the same women [Eriksson, 2018]. STRATUS has the potential to become a useful tool for epidemiological studies and clinical follow-up.
Eriksson M, Czene K, Pawitan Y, Leifland K, Darabi H, Hall P. A clinical model for identifying the short-term risk of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2017 Mar 14;19(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s13058-017-0820-y. PMID: 28288659
Eriksson M, Li J, Leifland K, Czene K, Hall P. A comprehensive tool for measuring mammographic density changes over time. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2018 Jun;169(2):371-379. doi: 10.1007/s10549-018-4690-5. Epub 2018 Feb 1. PMID: 29392583