The Dependence of Tomosynthesis Imaging Performance on the Number of Scan Projections

Ren, Bin; Wu, Tao; Smith, Andrew P.; Ruth, Chris; Niklason, Loren T.; Jing, Zhenxue; Stein, J. A.

doi:10.1007/11783237_70

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…At higher quantum noise levels ͑⌽ =6ϫ 10 4 ͒, increasing the number of views does not increase detectability and Sechopoulos' et al 16 result of a "threshold number of views" is found, beyond which increasing the number of views does not improve the tomosynthesis images. This is also in agreement with findings of Ren et al 6 and Chawla et al 20 The ratio of detectability in the slice to that in the projection image has also been investigated by Ruschin et al 46 They found that a factor of 4 higher amplitude was required to reach equal performance for human observers in a projection image, compared to a tomosynthesis reconstructed slice. Their signal consisted of a simulated irregular tumor of about 8 mm diameter, with constant intensity in 3D.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…The appearance of the tomosynthesis volume also depends on the number of projection views acquired. 6,7 Furthermore, the reconstructed image is affected by the choice of reconstruction algorithm. Both analytically based algorithms, including matrixinversion tomosynthesis 8,9 and filtered backprojection ͑FBP͒ 10,11 and iterative algorithms 12,13 have been applied to tomosynthesis reconstruction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…14 There have been a number of studies investigating the effect of tomosynthesis acquisition parameters on image quality. Ren et al 6 investigated the effect of number of projection views on contrast-to-noise ratio ͑CNR͒ for a fixed dose and 20°angular scan using simulated data and data acquired on a tomosynthesis prototype. In addition, artifact conspicuity was evaluated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Task-based assessment of breast tomosynthesis: Effect of acquisition parameters and quantum noisea)

2010

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Purpose: Tomosynthesis is a promising modality for breast imaging. The appearance of the tomosynthesis reconstructed image is greatly affected by the choice of acquisition and reconstruction parameters. The purpose of this study was to investigate the limitations of tomosynthesis breast imaging due to scan parameters and quantum noise. Tomosynthesis image quality was assessed based on performance of a mathematical observer model in a signal-known exactly ͑SKE͒ detection task. Methods: SKE detectability ͑dЈ͒ was estimated using a prewhitening observer model. Structured breast background was simulated using filtered noise. Detectability was estimated for designer nodules ranging from 0.05 to 0.8 cm in diameter. Tomosynthesis slices were reconstructed using iterative maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization. The tomosynthesis scan angle was varied between 15°and 60°, the number of views between 11 and 41 and the total number of x-ray quanta was ϱ, 6ϫ 10 5 , and 6 ϫ 10 4 . Detectability in tomosynthesis was compared to that in a single projection. Results: For constant angular sampling distance, increasing the angular scan range increased detectability for all signal sizes. Large-scale signals were little affected by quantum noise or angular sampling. For small-scale signals, quantum noise and insufficient angular sampling degraded detectability. At high quantum noise levels, angular step size of 3°or below was sufficient to avoid image degradation. At lower quantum noise levels, increased angular sampling always resulted in increased detectability. The ratio of detectability in the tomosynthesis slice to that in a single projection exhibited a peak that shifted to larger signal sizes when the angular range increased. For a given angular range, the peak shifted toward smaller signals when the number of views was increased. The ratio was greater than unity for all conditions evaluated. Conclusion: The effect of acquisition parameters on lesion detectability depends on signal size. Tomosynthesis scan angle had an effect on detectability for all signals sizes, while quantum noise and angular sampling only affected the detectability small-scale signals.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Task-based assessment of breast tomosynthesis: Effect of acquisition parameters and quantum noisea)

2010

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“…Many researchers have performed studies to determine the optimum geometry (angular range and number of projection views) for DBT. (Eberhard et al , 2006; Chawla et al , 2009; Chawla et al , 2008; Das et al , 2009; Gang et al , 2010; Gifford et al , 2008; Hu et al , 2008; Lu et al , 2011; Maidment et al , 2005; Maidment et al , 2006; Mertelmeier et al , 2008; Nishikawa et al , 2007; Reiser and Nishikawa, 2010; Ren et al , 2006; Sechopoulos, 2013; Sechopoulos and Ghetti, 2009; Tucker et al , 2012; Tucker et al , 2013; Van de Sompel et al , 2011; Wu et al , 2004; Ren et al , 2009, Young et al, 2013) Most of these studies have involved modeling of the tomosynthesis systems and some included modeling of the observers. Very few of the investigations have been experimental, in most part due to the unavailability of DBT systems that permit investigation of a wide variety of geometries, and because of the unavailability of realistic breast-simulating physical phantoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital breast tomosynthesis: studies of the effects of acquisition geometry on contrast-to-noise ratio and observer preference of low-contrast objects in breast phantom images

et al. 2014

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The effect of acquisition geometry in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) was evaluated with studies of contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) and observer preference. Contrast-detail (CD) test objects in 5 cm thick phantoms with breast-like backgrounds were imaged. Twelve different angular acquisitions (average glandular dose for each ~1.1 mGy) were performed ranging from narrow angle 16° with 17 projection views (16d17p) to wide angle 64d17p. Focal slices of SART-reconstructed images of the CD arrays were selected for CNR computations and the reader preference study. For the latter, pairs of images obtained with different acquisition geometries were randomized and scored by 7 trained readers. The total scores for all images and readings for each acquisition geometry were compared as were the CNRs. In general, readers preferred images acquired with wide angle as opposed to narrow angle geometries. The mean percent preferred was highly correlated with tomosynthesis angle (R=0.91). The highest scoring geometries were 60d21p (95%), 64d17p (80%), and 48d17p (72%); the lowest scoring were 16d17p (4%), 24d9p (17%) and 24d13p (33%). The measured CNRs for the various acquisitions showed much overlap but were overall highest for wide-angle acquisitions. Finally, the mean reader scores were well correlated with the mean CNRs (R=0.83).

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“…[2][3][4] A number of clinical tomosynthesis systems and clinical prototypes have been developed. [5][6][7] The acquisition parameters, such as scan angle and number of projection views, vary greatly between these systems. There are many physical parameters of the imaging system, such as xray source motion (step-and-shoot vs. continuous scan), x-ray scatter, detector blur and noise, that need to be considered when performing system optimization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Signal-known exactly detection performance in tomosynthesis: does volume visualization help human observers?

Reiser

Nishikawa

2012

SPIE Proceedings

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Tomosynthesis produces three-dimensional images of an object, with non-isotropic resolution. Tomosynthesis images are typically read by human observers in a stack viewing mode, displaying planes through the tomosynthesis volume. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether human performance in a signal-known exactly (SKE) detection task improves when the entire tomosynthesis volume is available to the observer, compared to displaying a single plane through the signal center. The goal of this study was to improve understanding of human performance in order to aid development of observer models for tomosynthesis.Human performance was measured using sequential 2-alternative forced choice experiments. In each trial, the observer was first asked to select the signal-present ROI based on a single 2D tomosynthesis plane. Then, scrolling was enabled and the observer was able to select the signal-present ROI, based on knowledge of the entire volume. The number of correct decisions for 2D and 3D viewing was recorded, and the number of trials was recorded for which a score increase or decrease occured between 2D and 3D readings.Test images consisted of tomosynthesis reconstructions of simulated breast tissue, where breast tissue was modeled as binarized power-law noise. Tomosynthesis reconstructions of designer nodules of r = 250μm, r = 1mm, r = 4mm were added to the structured backgrounds. For each signal size, observers scored 256 trials with signal amplitude set so that the proportion of correct answers in the single slice was 90%.For two observers, a slight increase in performance was found when adjacent tomosynthesis slices were displayed, for the two larger signals. Statistical significance could not be established. The number of decision changes was analyzed for each observer. For these two observers, the number of decision changes that led to a score increase or decrease were outside the 95% confidence interval of the decision change being random, indicating that for these two observers, displaying the tomosynthesis stack did boost performance. For the other two observers, decision changes that increased or decreased the score were within the 95% confidence interval of guessing, indicating that the decision changes were due to a satisfaction of search effect.However the results also indicate that the performance increase is small and the majority of information appears to be contained in the tomosynthesis slice that corresponds to the center of the lesions.

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The Dependence of Tomosynthesis Imaging Performance on the Number of Scan Projections

Cited by 11 publications

References 1 publication

Task-based assessment of breast tomosynthesis: Effect of acquisition parameters and quantum noisea)

Task-based assessment of breast tomosynthesis: Effect of acquisition parameters and quantum noisea)

Digital breast tomosynthesis: studies of the effects of acquisition geometry on contrast-to-noise ratio and observer preference of low-contrast objects in breast phantom images

Signal-known exactly detection performance in tomosynthesis: does volume visualization help human observers?

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