Tomosynthesis Breast Imaging Early Detection and Characterization of Breast Cancer

摘要

A digital tomosynthesis mammography method was developed with which to obtain tomographic images of the breast by acquiring a series of low radiation dose images as the x-ray tube moves in an arc above the breast. Reconstruction algorithms were developed and implemented for rapid reconstruction of breast tomograms. A tomosynthesis study producing tomograms through the whole breast can be performed with a total dose that is equivalent to one conventional mammogram. The optimum number of views is seven to nine and optimum tomographic angle 30 to 40 degrees. MTF or spatial resolution for tomosynthesis was similar to that of 2 dimensional images and SNR is approximately equal to conventional mammograms even with equivalent total radiation dose. A reader study using the developed complex background phantom indicate improved lesion detection with tomosynthesis, for both round and spiculated masses, a mastectomy specimen reader study showed that the lesion margins can be better assessed with tomosynthesis as compared to film-screen mammography.