Configuring Mammography Settings

Use the following settings to configure how Synapse displays mammography images. Synapse also supports MG tomosynthesis series.

Path

Settings > Mammography

Steps

  1. Modify the following settings as needed.

  2. Optional: When you finish configuring all settings, click Close

Image Display

Use the image display settings to adjust the scaling method of mammography images to improve image quality.

Setting

Description

Enable bicubic for upscaling

  • If selected, Synapse uses an alternate algorithm that makes images smoother and less pixelated when zooming images beyond their normal resolution.
  • This setting is cleared by default.

Enable bicubic for downscaling

  • If selected, Synapse uses an alternate algorithm that makes images smoother and less pixelated when minimizing images below their normal resolution.
  • This setting is cleared by default.
  • Note: MoirĂ© artifact might be increased when using bicubic for downscaling.

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MG Series Settings

Use the MG Series settings to configure how Synapse displays mammography images. Synapse also supports MG tomosynthesis series.

Setting

Description

Zoom to breast bounds on initial display

  • If selected, Synapse automatically magnifies breast images when opening a study, so that the breast tissue of each image fills as much of each applicable viewport as possible.
  • Note: Synapse might not set an image to Zoom to Breast Bounds if the image compression is set to lossy.
  • This setting is selected by default.

Apply height alignment to breast pair

  • Automatically aligns the height and centering of breast pairs when opening a study.
  • Zoom to breast bounds on initial display must be selected to turn on the Apply height alignment to breast pair setting.
  • Enable Link Zoom/Pan must be selected for MG to turn on the Apply height alignment to breast pair setting. See Configuring Cross Reference Settings.
  • This setting is selected by default.

Enable Breast Tomo Scout

  • If selected, when viewing tomosynthesis images, this option displays a schematic of the breast within the viewport, showing approximate breast quadrants and the current slice level within the breast.
  • This setting is selected by default.
  • Note:
    • This option is intended to assist with spatial orientation and is not an exact representation of the breast.
    • Under certain conditions the scout will not display, such as if the angle of the gantry does not match the expected angle for the view. For example, if the patient/client is positioned prone, supine, or decubitus.

CAD Display

Show CAD

  • If selected, Synapse automatically shows Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) markers when you open an MG study.
  • This setting is cleared by default.
  • If Show CAD is selected, choose between the following options:
    • Always: If selected, Synapse shows CAD markers when you open an MG study and throughout the reading protocol.
      • This is the default setting.
    • On last step only: If selected, Synapse automatically adds an extra step displaying CAD findings to the end of reading protocols. Choose between the following options: 
      • Repeat first Reading Protocol step
        • Synapse displays CAD findings on a reading protocol step that is identical to the first step of the selected reading protocol. This is convenient for users whose first step is an overview of the examination.
        • This is the default setting.
      • Insert Dynamic Layout
        • Synapse displays CAD findings on a reading protocol step that honors the user's settings from User Settings > Reading Protocols > Dynamic Layout > MG > Comparison Arrangement.

Propagate implant suppression to all images

If selected, Synapse does the following:

  • Applies breast implant suppression by reducing the breast implant brightness in all 2D and tomosynthesis mammography studies.
  • Toggles the implant suppression for all the active viewports by clicking the Implant Suppression On/Off icon.

If turned off, you can toggle breast implant suppression for the active viewport by clicking the Implant Suppression On/Off icon.

Note:

  • Synapse applies the suppression of all implants for reading protocols.
  • If you apply Reset Image State, Synapse turns off implant suppression for all viewports.
  • This setting is cleared by default.

Implant suppression on initial display

If selected, Synapse applies breast implant suppression for 2D and tomosynthesis mammography studies by reducing the breast implant brightness on initial display.

Note:

  • Synapse maintains the last user-generated and autogenerated Snapshots of the breast implant suppression.
  • If you apply Reset Image State, Synapse maintains implant suppression for all viewports.
  • This setting is cleared by default.

Compare Same Series

This setting allows you to stack the right-most viewport of the Compare Same Series View (Alt+G) with priors for more efficient reading.

  • Display up to 3 available priors:
    • Creates temporary reading protocol step that compares the same series name without stacking (for example, Current + P1 + P2 + P3).
    • This is the default setting.
    • Note: There is no age limit for priors. This means that more recent comparisons will be included, if available.
  • Stack remaining priors in last viewport up to nn Years from current study:
    • Creates temporary reading protocol step that compares the same series name and stacks the last viewport with remaining priors (for example, Current + P1 + P2 + P3-P10).
    • If applicable, select a different number from the drop-down list of 1 through 12.
    • The default setting is 10.
    • Note: This option excludes more recent comparisons and studies beyond the specified age. This might result in the display of fewer series relative to the Display up to 3 available priors setting above.

See Comparing the Same Series.

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MG Near-Match Settings

You can configure the following settings in the MG Near-Match settings section:

Setting

Description

Enable near-match

  • If selected, Synapse displays the following additional MG Near-Match settings.
  • This setting is selected by default.

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Near-Match Rules

Setting

Description

Near-match series, same procedure code

  • If selected, Synapse displays matching reading protocols for studies that have the same procedure code, but considers near- match series boundaries. The number of series can be different as configured in the Near-Match Series Boundaries settings.
  • This setting is selected by default.

Any series, same procedure code

  • If selected, Synapse displays matching reading protocols for studies that have the same procedure code, but does not consider near- match series boundaries.

Near-match series, any procedure code

  • If selected, Synapse displays reading protocols that ignore the procedure code, but considers near- match series boundaries. The number of series can be different as configured in the Near-Match Series Boundaries settings.
  • This setting is selected by default.

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Near-Match Series Boundaries

Setting

Description

Number of series more than reading protocol

  • If selected, Synapse specifies how many additional series can be in a study for Synapse to display a study using a series- based reading protocol that has a defined number of series with specific names. Synapse displays these extra series as additional steps.
  • If applicable, select a different number from the drop-down list of 1 through 6.
  • The default setting is 3.

Number of series less than reading protocol

  • If selected, Synapse specifies how many fewer series can be in a study for Synapse to display that study using a series- based reading protocol that has a defined number of series with specific names. Synapse displays blank viewports for missing series.
  • If applicable, select a different number from the drop-down list of 1 through 6.
  • The default setting is 3.

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MG Stack Settings

You can configure the following MG Stack settings for mammography studies in the MG Near-Match settings section:

MG Stack Match Priority

Setting

Description

Make Series-stacking protocols higher priority than Same-series protocols

  • If selected, Synapse determines the reading protocol priority for MG stacking.
  • This setting is selected by default.

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MG Stack Near-Match

Setting

Description

Enable stack near-match

  • If selected, Synapse activates additional MG Stack Near-Match options.
  • This setting is selected by default.

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Current Studies Near-Match Boundaries

Setting

Description

Maximum number of empty protocol stacks

  • Use this setting to specify the maximum number of MG stacks defined in a reading protocol that can be empty for the current study.
  • If applicable, select a different number from the drop-down list of 1 through 6.
  • The default setting is 3.

Maximum number of extra series stacks

  • Use this setting to specify the maximum number of MG stacks that Synapse would not display by a reading protocol for a current study.
  • If applicable, select a different number from the drop-down list of 1 through 6.
  • The default setting is 3.

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Prior Studies Near-Match Boundaries

Setting

Description

Maximum number (scaled) of empty protocols stacks

  • Use this setting to specify the maximum number of the empty protocol stacks displayed for prior studies.
  • If applicable, select a different number from the drop-down list of 1 through 6.
  • The default setting is 6.

Maximum number of (scaled) of extra series stacks

  • Use this setting to specify the maximum number of extra study stacks displayed for prior studies.
  • If applicable, select a different number from the drop-down list of 1 through 6.
  • The default setting is 6.

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MG Stack 'All Priors' Sort

Setting

Description

Stack studies in acquired order, most recent to oldest

  • If selected, Synapse displays the newest study first and the oldest study last in the stack.
  • This setting is selected by default.

Stack studies in acquired order, oldest to most recent

  • If selected, Synapse displays the oldest study first and the newest study last in the stack.

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Results

Synapse automatically saves any updated options and displays the following message in the bottom left corner of the window: Successfully saved.

Synapse displays the following message to alert you that an action must be taken for the settings to apply: Refresh the Synapse browser window for settings to apply.

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Related Topics

Configuring Cine Settings

Using Cine

Image and Series Sorting