Image noise sensitivity of dual-energy digital mammography for calcification imaging

Xi Chen; Robert M. Nishikawa; Suk-tak Chan; Lei Zhang; Xuanqin Mou

doi:10.1117/12.877932

16 March 2011 Image noise sensitivity of dual-energy digital mammography for calcification imaging

Xi Chen, Robert M. Nishikawa, Suk-tak Chan, Lei Zhang, Xuanqin Mou

Proceedings Volume 7961, Medical Imaging 2011: Physics of Medical Imaging; 796155 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.877932
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2011, Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), Florida, United States

Abstract

Dual-energy digital mammography (DEDM) can suppress the contrast between adipose and glandular tissues and generate dual-energy (DE) calcification signals. DE calcification signals are always influenced by many factors. Image noise is one of these factors. In this paper, the sensitivity of DE calcification signal to image noise was analyzed based on DEDM physical model. Image noise levels of two different commercially available digital mammography systems, GE Senographe Essential system and GE Senographe DS system, were measured. The mean noise was about 1.04% for Senographe Essential system, 1.42% for Senographe DS system at 28kVp/50mAs; and was 0.47% for Senographe Essential system, 0.79% for Senographe DS system at 48kVp/12.5mAs. Evaluations were performed by comparing RMS (Root-Mean-Square) of calcification signal fluctuations in background regions and CNR (Contrast-Noise-Ratio) of calcification signals in clusters when these two digital mammography systems were used. The results showed that image noise had a serious impact on DEDM calcification signals. If GE Senographe Essential system was used, calcification signal fluctuations were 200~300μm, and when calcification size is greater than 300μm, the probability of acquiring CNR≥3 is over 50%. If noise reduction techniques are used, the calcification threshold size of CNR≥3 can be lower.

Citation Download Citation

Xi Chen, Robert M. Nishikawa, Suk-tak Chan, Lei Zhang, and Xuanqin Mou "Image noise sensitivity of dual-energy digital mammography for calcification imaging", Proc. SPIE 7961, Medical Imaging 2011: Physics of Medical Imaging, 796155 (16 March 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.877932

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