Feasibility of CT Mammography Using Flat Panel Detectors

在平面乳房x光检查中发现病变是一项不同的任务，主要是由于叠加的实质乳腺模式的掩盖作用。层析成像可以为放射科医生提供三维乳房的图像切片，可能会减少这种掩蔽效应。本研究的目的是探讨使用非晶硅平板图像进行乳腺体积复合断层扫描（CT）的可行性。我们的假设是，使用最先进的数字探测器的专用CT乳房x线摄影可以提供高质量的图像和乳房组织的三维可视化，辐射剂量大致相当于筛查乳房x线摄影。我们建议通过将商业原型，平板图像与包含精密旋转和跨国阶段的光学工作台板集成来研究这种系统的特性。这将允许获得投影图像，通过旋转的角度超过360度的步骤的幻影。我们还建议从理论上研究可选的CT乳房x线摄影系统配置，使用通过平板探测器的单噪声传播的数学模型，以及乳腺成像中病变检测任务的现实模型。设计和采集参数，如断层成像采样要求、成像几何形状、x射线转换器特性和入射到膜上的x射线能谱，将被研究。先前的报告表明，乳房断层成像具有巨大的潜力。为了评估断层乳房x线摄影的改进，如果有的话，我们计划比较使用人类观察者研究和平面乳房x线摄影、断层合成和CT生成的刺激图像的病变检测准确性。这些研究的一个重要组成部分将是使用病变和乳腺组织的现实模型。这些模型将根据手术切除病变和乳腺组织标本的统计特征来确定。

Detection of lesions in planar mammogram is a different task, predominantly due to the masking effect of superimposed parenchymal breast patterns. Tomographic imaging can provide the radiologist with image slices through the three dimensional (D.) breast possibly reducing this masking effect. The goal of the proposed research is to investigate the feasibility OD using an amorphous silicon, flat-panel image for volumetric compound tomography (CT) of the breast. Our hypothesis is that dedicated CT mammography using state-of-the-art digital detectors can provide high quality images and three dimensional visualization of breast tissue, with a radiation dose approximately equivalent to that given in screening mammography. We propose to investigate the characteristics of such a system by integrating a commercial prototype, flat panel image, with an optical bench plate containing precision rotational and transnational stages. This would allow the acquisition of projection imaged by rotating phantoms in angular steps over 360 degrees. We also propose to theoretically investigate optional CT mammography system configurations using mathematical models of single and noise propagation through the flat panel detector, and realistic models of the lesion detection task in breast imaging. Design and acquisition parameters such as tomographic sampling requirements, imaging geometry, x-ray converter characteristics, and x-ray energy spectrum incident on the braes will be investigated. Previous reports have suggested great potential for tomographic breast imaging. To evaluate improvements in tomographic mammography, if any, we plan to compare lesion detection accuracy using human observer studies and stimulates images generated with planar mammography, tomosynthesis, and CT . an important component of these studies will be the use of realistic models for lesions and breast tissue. These models will be determined based on the statistical characterization of surgically removed lesion and breast tissue specimens.