Spatial resolution measurements in quasimonochromatic x rays with mosaic crystals for mammography application

Gambaccini, M.; Tuffanelli, A.; Taibi, Angelo; Guerra, A. Del

doi:10.1118/1.1352578

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In the last decade, a compact source which generates quasi-monochromatic beams with a conventional x-ray tube and a mosaic crystal monochromator has been developed. 7,8 Subtraction imaging at the iodine K-edge has been tested in the last few years using this x-ray beam facility, together with silicon strip detectors with single-photon counting capability. The obtained results demonstrated an interesting image quality also for iodine concentrations reduced with respect to normal clinical practice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of x‐ray energy dispersion in digital subtraction imaging at the iodine ‐edge—A Monte Carlo study

et al. 2007

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The effect of the energy dispersion of a quasi-monochromatic x-ray beam on the performance of a dual-energy x-ray imaging system is studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations using MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended) version 2.6.0. In particular, the case of subtraction imaging at the iodine K-edge, suitable for angiographic imaging application, is investigated. The average energies of the two beams bracketing the iodine K-edge are set to the values of 31.2 and 35.6 keV corresponding to the ones obtained with a compact source based on a conventional x-ray tube and a mosaic crystal monochromator. The energy dispersion of the two beams is varied between 0 and 10 keV of full width at half-maximum (FWHM). The signal and signal-to-noise ratio produced in the simulated images by iodine-filled cavities (simulating patient vessels) drilled in a PMMA phantom are studied as a function of the x-ray energy dispersion. The obtained results show that, for the considered energy separation of 4.4 keV, no dramatic deterioration of the image quality is observed with increasing x-ray energy dispersion up to a FWHM of about 2.35 keV. The case of different beam energies is also investigated by means of fast simulations of the phantom absorption.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of x‐ray energy dispersion in digital subtraction imaging at the iodine ‐edge—A Monte Carlo study

et al. 2007

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“…As far as mammography is concerned, the photon flux provided by the compact x-ray source may prove to be adequate. Indeed, previous studies showed that, in the mammography energy range, improvements are within the achievable increase of intensity (Gambaccini et al 2001). Since at iodine K-edge energies the x-ray beam is more penetrating we only need to optimize the optical system for maximum reflectivity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

K-edge digital subtraction imaging based on a dichromatic and compact x-ray source

Sarnelli¹,

Taibi²,

Tuffanelli³

et al. 2004

Phys. Med. Biol.

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This work proposes a compact dichromatic imaging system for the application of the K-edge digital subtraction technique based on a conventional x-ray tube and a monochromator system. A quasi-monochromatic x-ray beam at the energy of iodine K-edge is produced by Bragg diffraction on a mosaic crystal. Two thin adjacent beams with energies that bracket the K-edge discontinuity are obtained from the diffracted beam by means of a proper collimation system. They are then detected using an array of Si detectors. A home-made phantom is used to study the image quality as a function of iodine concentration. Signal and signal-to-noise ratio analysis has also been performed. The results are compared with theoretical expectations.

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“…However, the transfer from the rather complex physical environment to clinical routine has not been given so far. The current approach, which is similar to the concept described in the literature [16], focuses on monochromatic X-ray beams obtained from conventional X-ray tubes. Since monochromacity and high reflectivity have to be optimized for the generation of monochromatic X-ray beams with acceptable intensity, monochromators with HOPG crystals can be used favorably [16,17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Near monochromatic X-rays for digital slot-scan mammography: initial findings

Diekmann

Richter

et al. 2004

Eur Radiol

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X-ray spectra are composed of a broad bremsspectrum and anode-characteristic emission lines. In mammography typically molybdenum (Mo), rhodium (Rh) or tungsten (W) anodes are used in combination with Mo, Rh or aluminium filters. Only the photons with energies between 17 and 22 keV of the resulting spectrum are suitable for the soft tissue imaging needed for mammography. The aim of this article is to present first results obtained with a monochromator module mounted at the exit of the X-ray tube of a conventional clinical mammography unit. The experimental setup consists of a Siemens Mammomat 300, an X-ray monochromator module and a linear array detector for image acquisition. The technique is similar to the slot-scan technique known from digital mammography. The experimental machine allows to obtain images both with polychromatic and monochromatic X-rays. Initial evaluation of the system was performed by examination of a contrast-detail phantom (CD-MAM-phantom, Nijmegen, The Netherlands). Images done with the new monochromatic technique were compared to images of the phantom done with polychromatic spectra, with film-screen mammography as well as with digital mammography. The new technique with monochromatic slot-scan mammography resulted in correct identification of 93% of the phantom. Digital slot-scan mammography with polychromatic beam resulted in correct identification of 87%, digital full-field mammography in 83% and conventional film-screen mammography in 70% of the phantom. The results suggest that monochromatization has a potential for improving image quality or decreasing dose in X-ray mammography.

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Spatial resolution measurements in quasimonochromatic x rays with mosaic crystals for mammography application

Cited by 16 publications

References 30 publications

Effect of x‐ray energy dispersion in digital subtraction imaging at the iodine ‐edge—A Monte Carlo study

Effect of x‐ray energy dispersion in digital subtraction imaging at the iodine ‐edge—A Monte Carlo study

K-edge digital subtraction imaging based on a dichromatic and compact x-ray source

Near monochromatic X-rays for digital slot-scan mammography: initial findings

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