Feasibility of CT Mammography Using Flat Panel Detectors

在平面乳腺X线摄影中检测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蔽效应。断层成像可以通过三维（D.）可能会减少这种掩盖效应。拟议的研究的目标是调查的可行性OD使用非晶硅，平板图像的体积复合断层扫描（CT）的乳房。我们的假设是，使用最先进的数字探测器的专用CT乳腺X射线摄影可以提供高质量的图像和乳腺组织的三维可视化，辐射剂量大致相当于筛查乳腺X射线摄影中给出的辐射剂量。我们建议调查这样一个系统的特点，通过整合一个商业原型，平板图像，与一个光学工作台板包含精密旋转和跨国阶段。这将允许通过以超过360度的角度步长旋转体模来获取投影成像。我们还建议从理论上研究可选的CT乳腺X射线摄影系统配置，使用通过平板探测器的单个和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，如断层扫描采样要求，成像几何，x射线转换器的特性，和x射线能量谱入射到braes将进行调查。以前的报告表明，乳房断层成像的巨大潜力。为了评价乳腺X线断层摄影的改进（如果有的话），我们计划使用人类观察者研究比较病变检测准确性，并刺激平面乳腺X线摄影、断层合成和CT生成的图像。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真实模型。这些模型将根据手术切除的病变和乳腺组织样本的统计学表征来确定。

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.