Optimizing configuration parameters of a stationary digital breast tomosynthesis system based on carbon nanotube x-ray sources

Andrew Tucker; Xin Qian; Emily Gidcumb; Derrek Spronk; Frank Sprenger; Johnny Kuo; Susan Ng; Jianping Lu; Otto Zhou

doi:10.1117/12.911530

2 March 2012 Optimizing configuration parameters of a stationary digital breast tomosynthesis system based on carbon nanotube x-ray sources

Andrew Tucker, Xin Qian, Emily Gidcumb, Derrek Spronk, Frank Sprenger, Johnny Kuo, Susan Ng, Jianping Lu, Otto Zhou

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8313, Medical Imaging 2012: Physics of Medical Imaging; 831307 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.911530
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The stationary Digital Breast Tomosynthesis System (s-DBT) has the advantage over the conventional DBT systems as there is no motion blurring in the projection images associated with the x-ray source motion. We have developed a prototype s-DBT system by retrofitting a Hologic Selenia Dimensions rotating gantry tomosynthesis system with a distributed carbon nanotube (CNT) x-ray source array. The linear array consists of 31 x-ray generating focal spots distributed over a 30 degree angle. Each x-ray beam can be electronically activated allowing the flexibility and easy implementation of novel tomosynthesis scanning with different scanning parameters and configurations. Here we report the initial results of investigation on the imaging quality of the s-DBT system and its dependence on the acquisition parameters including the number of projections views, the total angular span of the projection views, the dose distribution between different projections, and the total dose. A mammography phantom is used to visually assess image quality. The modulation transfer function (MTF) of a line wire phantom is used to evaluate the system spatial resolution. For s-DBT the in-plan system resolution, as measured by the MTF, does not change for different configurations. This is in contrast to rotating gantry DBT systems, where the MTF degrades for increased angular span due to increased focal spot blurring associated with the x-ray source motion. The overall image quality factor, a composite measure of the signal difference to noise ratio (SdNR) for mass detection and the z-axis artifact spread function for microcalcification detection, is best for the configuration with a large angular span, an intermediate number of projection views, and an even dose distribution. These results suggest possible directions for further improvement of s-DBT systems for high quality breast cancer imaging.

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Andrew Tucker, Xin Qian, Emily Gidcumb, Derrek Spronk, Frank Sprenger, Johnny Kuo, Susan Ng, Jianping Lu, and Otto Zhou "Optimizing configuration parameters of a stationary digital breast tomosynthesis system based on carbon nanotube x-ray sources", Proc. SPIE 8313, Medical Imaging 2012: Physics of Medical Imaging, 831307 (2 March 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.911530

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