To make the question clear, let me use an example: examIndex|imageIndex|view|laterality|filename 1|1|CC|R|121370.dcm 1|2|CC|L|121373.dcm 1|3|MLO|L|121377.dcm 1|4|MLO|R|121381.dcm 1|5|CC|R|121385.dcm 1|6|CC|L|121388.dcm 1|7|MLO|R|121390.dcm 1|8|MLO|R|121393.dcm In the above example, all images belong to the same patient in the same exam. As we can see, both CC-R and CC-L were repeatedly imaged once; and MLO-R were repeatedly imaged twice. Each image is also identified by an imageIndex. Can we interpret the images with larger imageIndex as the ones that were generated later, or does it matter at all? For example, was 8-MLO-R taken after 7-MLO-R?

Created by Li Shen thefaculty
You shouldn't read too much into sequencing of images or repeat views. It is most likely that the woman's breast was so large that two of the same projections (e.g., CC) were needed to ensure imaging of the entire surface area of the breast. It doesn't matter what projections were obtained first or last...all of them are interpreted collectively by the radiologist and none are preferred over the other.

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