Evaluation of A New Breast-shaped Compensation Filter for A Newly Built Breast Imaging System

摘要

A new breast-shaped compensation filter has been designed and fabricated for breast imaging using our newly built breast imaging (CBCTBI) system, which is able to scan an uncompressed breast with pendant geometry. The shape of this compensation filter is designed based on an average-sized breast phantom. Unlike conventional bow-tie compensation filters, its cross-sectional profile varies along the chest wall-to-nipple direction for better compensation for the shape of a breast. Breast phantoms of three different sizes are used to evaluate the performance of this compensation filter. The reconstruction image quality was studied and compared to that obtained without the compensation filter in place. The uniformity of linear attenuation coefficient and the uniformity of noise distribution are significantly improved, and the contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of small lesions near the chest wall are increased as well. Multi-normal image method is used in the reconstruction process to correct compensation flood field and to reduce ring artifacts.