Breast Cancer Detection and Imaging using Analyzer-less X-ray Interferometry

我们提出了一种新的X射线干涉成像系统，适用于筛查乳腺摄影。这 具有调制相位光栅的多对比度乳腺X射线摄影系统（MCMS-MPG）提供3 图像的补充类型-常规衰减、相衬和暗场（小角度散射） - 所有这些都是从单次扫描中处理的，其中输送给患者的剂量量与 一个标准的乳房X光筛查使这种筛选干涉成像的关键创新 调制相位光栅（MPG）是一种可以产生高质量X射线干涉条纹的系统 即使在紧凑的距离（<70 cm）下，也可通过临床X射线探测器观察到， 分析仪光栅所需的其他先进的X射线干涉测量系统。虽然关键的科学前提 我们的系统是独立于应用程序的，在这个项目中，我们专注于乳腺癌的应用，因为近1 在美国，每8名女性中就有1人会在其一生中患上浸润性乳腺癌。筛查和早期 诊断是降低死亡率的关键。每年有近4000万妇女使用 乳房X线摄影术，一种广泛接受的放射成像方法，使用低能量X射线。当前 新一代的乳房X线摄影系统产生92%的灵敏度和84-92%的特异性。假阳性需要 用于诊断成像和活组织检查的召回，其成本高达79亿美元/年。提高灵敏度 因此，筛查的特异性将对乳腺癌诊断产生重大的综合影响， 以及相关的医疗费用。我们的假设是，我们的系统所提供的额外的多对比度信息 提供，获得的患者剂量不超过目前的筛查乳房X线照片，将产生更高的 灵敏度和特异性高于标准筛查乳房X线照片。该项目有两个目标。目标1： 我们将进行全面的模拟，并开发一种迭代恢复方法，以改善图像 质量.恢复算法消除了不必要的图像退化效应，如非相干散射。的 模拟器和恢复算法将使用数字乳房模型和 放射科医生的观察员研究。目标2：我们将建立一个原型版本的MCMS-MPG系统， 评估其在人类乳腺病理学样本和乳腺X射线摄影质量保证方面的性能 使用与筛查乳房X线摄影系统相当的辐射剂量。一项观察者研究， 放射科医生将用于此次评估。

We propose a novel X-ray interferometry imaging system which is suitable for screening mammography. This Multi-Contrast Mammography System with Modulated Phase Gratings (MCMS-MPG) provides 3 complementary types of images – conventional attenuation, phase-contrast and dark-field (small-angle-scatter) – all processed from a single scan with an amount of dose delivered to the patient that is comparable to that of a standard screening mammogram. The key innovation that makes this screening interferometry imaging system possible is the modulated phase grating (MPG) which makes high-quality X-ray interference fringes observable by clinical X-ray detectors even at compact distances (<70cm) without the fluence absorbing analyzer-grating required for other advanced X-ray interferometry systems. While the key scientific premise of our system is application independent, in this project we focus on breast cancer application because nearly 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Screening and early diagnosis are key to reducing the death rate. Nearly 40 million women per year are screened using mammography, a widely accepted radiologic imaging method that uses low-energy X-rays. The current generation of mammography systems yields 92% sensitivity and 84-92% specificity. False positives require recalls for diagnostic imaging and biopsies, the costs of which run to $7.9 billion/year. Improving the sensitivity and specificity for screening will therefore have a significant combined impact on breast-cancer diagnosis as well as related healthcare costs. Our hypothesis is that the additional multi-contrast information that our system provides, obtained with no more dose to patient than with current screening mammograms, will yield higher sensitivity and specificity than those for standard screening mammograms. This project has two aims. Aim1: We will perform comprehensive simulations and develop an iterative recovery method to improve image quality. The recovery algorithm removes unwanted image degradation effects like incoherent scatter. The simulator and recovery algorithm will be validated experimentally using digital breast phantoms and an observer study by radiologists. Aim2: We will build a prototype version of our MCMS-MPG system and evaluate its performance on human breast pathology samples and mammography quality assurance phantoms, using radiation doses comparable to screening mammography systems. An observer study with radiologists will be used for this evaluation.