Real and simulated clustered microcalcifications in digital mammograms. ROC study of observer performance.

We have developed a model to simulate clustered microcalcifications on digital mammograms. Wavelet transform techniques were used to detect real clustered microcalcifications. A feature analysis process was applied to automatically extract the features describing the individual simulated microcalcifications and clusters from the values of the real clustered microcalcifications present in the mammogram. Subsequently, a database of simulated and real clustered microcalcifications was created. Clusters of microcalcifications from this database were tested for indistinguishability from real ones. Two radiologists and one physicist were asked to indicate whether the microcalcifications were either real or simulated. The responses of the readers were evaluated with a ROC analysis and the area under the curve was calculated. The average ROC area was 0.54 +/- 0.03, indicating there was no statistical difference between real and simulated clustered microcalcifications. The method allows for the creations of simulated clustered microcalcifications that are virtually indistinguishable from real microcalcifications in digital mammograms and could be used to evaluate different image processing techniques.