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Encord provides native support for Mammography. After uploading your files to the Encord platform, Mammography studies are automatically detected and optimized for a smooth annotation experience. This means you can view and edit multiple series at once, and navigate on a study-level. We use the following metadata tags to detect mammography scans:
We recommend rendering mammography files in their native resolution in the Label Editor. The native resolution setting can be found in the DICOM editor settings.
This page documents features and optimizations specific to mammography workflows. For working with other DICOM modalities, please check the general DICOM guide here

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Annotating in different views

You can switch the slice that is being annotated in a hanging protocol by switching out the tile being annotated, or by changing which tile can be annotated.
The tile currently being annotated is indicated by a purple toolbar
To select a tile for annotation
  • Click the Switch tiles icon highlighted in the image below.
  • Click the three dots icon highlighted in the image below and select Annotate from this file.
To move a tile to the one currently being annotated
  1. Click the three dots icon highlighted in the image below
  2. Select Annotate and swap tiles.

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Expand tile

You can expand the tile currently being annotated for a better view of the anatomical features, and more precise labels. How to expand the tile currently being annotated depends on the tile layout currently being used.
  • Click the Expand tile icon on the tile currently being annotated to expand the tile.
  • If the Expand tile icon is not visible above the tile currently being annotated, click the three dots icon and select Expand tile.
To return to your default tile layout click the Reset layout to default icon.

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Hanging protocols

Hanging protocols only apply to the current task. Learn how to set the editor layout for the entire Project here.
Mammography files can be arranged into a variety of different preset, or custom tile layouts.
To learn how to set custom editor layouts for the entire Project, see our documentation here.

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Presets

You can save presets for a given layout by typing a meaningful name after making a protocol selection, and clicking the + button. Click the tick icon next to a preset name to select the preset as your default layout.

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Default layouts

You can specify any preset, including Auto layout, as the default layout for studies in the Label Editor. Click the tick icon next to a preset in the hanging protocols menu, to select the preset as your default layout. You can reset the Label Editor to the default layout by clicking the Reset layout to default icon.

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Auto layouts

Learn how to set the editor layout for the entire Project here.
Auto layouts are common layouts for viewing DICOM studies in the Label Editor. Auto layouts are set in the DICOM editor settings. This includes the MPR layout setting, and the Mammography layout setting for mammography files. Selecting the Auto layout option resets the Label Editor to your auto layout. You can specify the Auto layout option as your default layout.
Common mammography hanging protocols are available as presets in the editor settings. You can choose between the following mammography layouts:
  • Off: Only the single mammography file that was opened is displayed in the Label Editor.
  • 2x2: Shows MLO views in the top row, and the CC views in the bottom row.
  • 4x1: Shows CC on the left, and MLO on the right.
Hover over a mammography layout setting to see how each file will be displayed in the Label Editor if the setting is selected.

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Study-wise navigation

See our documentation on Study-level workflows for a comprehensive tutorial of working with studies.
Encord supports navigation on a study and series-level. Click the three dots icon to the submit button to choose between them.
  • Submit series will submit the selected entity for review. For example - this means a single image for mammography, and a single volume for CT scans.
  • Submit study will submit all series or entities in the study for review.

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Mammography layout settings

The mammography layout settings are found in the DICOM editor settings of the DICOM Label Editor. The mammography layout settings determine the layout that mammography files are displayed in within the Label Editor.
You can choose between the following mammography layouts:
  • Off: Only the single mammography file that was opened is displayed in the Label Editor.
  • 2x2: Shows MLO views in the top row, and the CC views in the bottom row.
  • 4x1: Shows CC on the left, and MLO on the right.
Hover over a mammography layout setting to see how each file will be displayed in the Label Editor if the setting is selected.