Computer-aided mammography can detect more breast cancer tumors and can also detect smaller tumors in younger women, according to an article in the October issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

The study evaluated 27,274 screening mammograms done over a three-year period:19,402 were done using a computer-aided mammography detection system and 7,872 were done at the same center before the computer system was installed.

“Overall, we saw a 16-percent increase in the cancer detection rate,” said Tommy E. Cupples, MD, of ImageCare, LLC, and lead author of the study. He added, “The more important question is do we find more cancers earlier, when they are smaller and most curable.” Computer-aided mammography increased the detection rate of small invasive cancers (those 1 cm or less) by 164 percent said Dr. Cupples.

“The average ages of mammography screening detected cancers in the computer-aided group was more than five years younger than in the pre-computer aided group,” he added.

In the study, the radiologists reviewed each mammogram and then activated the computer-aided detection system. The system “marked” areas on the mammogram that were suspicious for cancer, and then the radiologists would review the mammogram.

“The computer-aided detection system we used was particularly useful for finding small masses,” said Cupples. “Small masses are difficult for radiologists to detect, especially in younger women with denser breast tissue. The computer-aided detection system is an excellent addition to the radiologist’s expertise,” he said.

The recall rate was 7.71 percent in the pre-computer group and 8.34 percent in the computer-aided group, with a recall rate of less than 10 percent generally considered to be acceptable. The biopsy rate increased from 1.37 percent in the pre-computer aided period to 1.47 percent in the computer-aided detection period.

“The increase in the detection of smaller cancers more than made up for the increase in the recall and biopsy rate,” Cupples noted.