What is the minimum native resolution for full-field digital mammography?

The minimum native resolution for full-field digital mammography is defined at 5 line pairs per millimeter. This resolution is crucial for ensuring that fine details in mammographic images can be adequately visualized, allowing for effective detection of abnormalities such as microcalcifications, which are often an early sign of breast cancer.

Each line pair consists of a line and a space, and the measurement in line pairs per millimeter indicates how finely the imaging system can resolve detail. Achieving a minimum of 5 line pairs per millimeter ensures that the mammography system provides enough contrast and clarity for radiologists to detect subtle changes in breast tissue, which is fundamental for accurate diagnosis and screening in breast cancer detection.

The other values, such as 3 line pairs per millimeter or 10 line pairs per millimeter, while relevant to other imaging techniques, do not meet the established standards for full-field digital mammography. Adopting a higher resolution like 15 line pairs per millimeter would improve detail further but is not a requirement; instead, the benchmark is set at 5 line pairs per millimeter for effective clinical practice.