Integrated ultrasound and digital mammography system

描述（由申请人提供）： 这项研究应用的长期目标是开发一种集成的超声和数字X射线成像系统，用于筛查和诊断乳腺X射线摄影。我们的主要假设是，同时采集和呈现乳腺的空间相关数字X射线和超声图像将提高传统筛查乳腺X射线摄影的固有灵敏度和特异性，特别是对于致密乳腺患者，从而大幅减少漏诊癌症和不必要的活检。第二个假设是，拟议的计算机化采集全乳房超声图像将减少传统的徒手乳房超声检查的操作员依赖的变化。第一阶段研究的具体目标是：（1）开发一个原型集成系统，旨在同时采集优化的乳腺超声和数字乳腺X射线摄影图像;（2）将集成系统的成像性能与传统专用乳腺超声和全视野数字乳腺X射线摄影系统的成像性能进行比较;以及（3）开发和评估同时采集的乳腺超声和数字乳腺X射线摄影图像的空间配准和显示方法。第一阶段的研究将主要集中在可行性研究，利用超声波，X射线和多模态乳房体模，以评估在有限的视野集成系统的性能。I期研究结果将用于在II期开发几种全乳房临床原型，并测试上述临床结局假设。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long term objective of this research application is to develop an integrated ultrasound and digital x-ray imaging system for screening and diagnostic mammography. Our primary hypothesis is that the simultaneous acquisition, and presentation of spatially correlated digital x-ray and ultrasound images of the breast will improve the inherent sensitivity and specificity of conventional screening mammography, particularly for patients with dense breasts, leading to a substantial reduction in missed cancers and unnecessary biopsies. A secondary hypothesis is that the proposed computerized acquisition of full-breast ultrasound images will decrease the operator-dependent variability of conventional free-hand breast sonography. Specific aims of Phase I research are to: (1) Develop a prototype integrated system designed to simultaneously acquire optimized breast ultrasound and digital mammography images; (2) Compare the imaging performance of the integrated system to the imaging performance of conventional dedicated breast ultrasound and full-field digital mammography systems; and (3) Develop and evaluate methods for spatial registration and display of simultaneously acquired breast ultrasound and digital mammography images. Phase I research will focus primarily on feasibility studies, utilizing ultrasound, x-ray and multi-modality breast phantoms to evaluate the performance of the integrated system over a limited field-of-view. Phase I research results will be used to develop several full-breast clinical prototypes in Phase II and to test the clinical outcome hypothesis indicated above.