[Digital image magnification mammography with the storage-screen technique. Standardized and findings-oriented image processing parameters].

Present day mammography has not been able to make use of the advantages of digital luminescence radiography because of the limited spatial resolution. The recent development of electromagnetic focusing x-ray tube with effective focal spot sizes from 0.04 to 0.12 mm allows radiographic direct magnification with less geometric blur. It is now possible to combine direct magnification mammography with digital luminescence radiography. By combining high quality storage phosphor screens with an HQ-workstation a spatial resolution of 8 lp/mm is possible for 1.7-fold magnification. For 4-fold spot magnification views spatial resolution can be theoretically increased to approx. 20 lp/mm. One important advantage of digital radiography is the possibility of image-post-processing. This article presents two sets of standard parameters and three sets of image dependent parameters for better imaging of specific lesions, such as microcalcifications. The introduction of the the storage phosphor screen technique in mammography is one step in the development of direct digital radiography. Further interesting perspectives for the future include post-processing programs for detecting suspicious lesions which are already being clinical tested.