Objective comparison of image quality and dose between conventional and synchrotron radiation mammography

Abstract

The shape of the energy spectrum produced by an x-ray tube has a great importance in mammography. Many anode-filtration combinations have been proposed to obtain the most effective spectrum shape for the image quality-dose relationship. On the other hand, third generation synchrotrons such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble are able to produce a high flux of monoenergetic radiation. It is thus a powerful tool to study the effect of beam energy on image quality and dose in mammography. An objective method was used to evaluate image quality and dose in mammography with synchrotron radiation and to compare them to standard conventional units. It was performed systematically in the energy range of interest for mammography through the evaluation of a global image quality index and through the measurement of the mean glandular dose. Compared to conventional mammography units, synchrotron radiation shows a great improvement of the image quality-dose relationship, which is due to the beam monochromaticity and to the high intrinsic collimation of the beam, which allows the use of a slit instead of an anti-scatter grid for scatter rejection.

Image quality evaluation of breast tomosynthesis with synchrotron radiation

“…The following images from the ROI of the MAMMAX breast phantom were experimentally obtained: (a) a single (14,16,18,20,22,24,26, and 27 keV) used to synthesize polychromatic images that correspond to an incident x-ray spectrum with W target.…”

Monte Carlo simulation of breast imaging using synchrotron radiation

“…Taking these theoretical advantages into consideration, many research groups have worked on applying and evaluating SR for breast imaging. [10][11][12][13][14][15] Burattini et al 10,11 performed SR mammograms on both phantoms and breast specimens that had also been irradiated with conventional mammographic units, concluding that SR results improved image quality for energies of 17 and 18 keV, while keeping the dose at the same level. Johnston et al 12 noticed an increased image contrast in images taken with a monoenergetic beam compared to conventional mammographic spectra, especially in the case of energies above 18 keV.…”

“…Johnston et al 12 noticed an increased image contrast in images taken with a monoenergetic beam compared to conventional mammographic spectra, especially in the case of energies above 18 keV. Moeckli et al 13 also worked on comparing SR to conventional mammography in terms of image quality and dose using test objects. The group of the Elettra Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Trieste has been dealing with SR mammography for many years.…”

Optimization of radiography applications using x‐ray beams emitted by compact accelerators. Part I. Monte Carlo study of the hard x‐ray spectrum

“…Theoretical and experimental studies have demonstrated the existence of an optimum energy range both for diagnostic radiology [28][29][30] and mammography examinations. [19][20][21][31][32][33] For example, improvement in image contrast and reduction of patient dose in mammography can be achieved using narrow energy-band x-ray beams in the range of 17-24 keV. Increasingly higher energies become more and more detrimental to the intrinsic image contrast, because of the vanishingly small difference between attenuation coefficients of lesions and normal tissues.…”