PVAL breast phantom for dual energy calcification detection

[摘要] Microcalcifications are the main indicator for breast cancer. Dual energy imaging can enhance the detectability of calcifications by suppressing the tissue background. Two digital images are obtained using two different spectra, for the low- and high-energy respectively, and a weighted subtracted image is produced. In this study, a dual energy method for the detection of the minimum breast microcalcification thickness was developed. The used integrated prototype system consisted of a modified tungsten anode X-ray tube combined with a high resolution CMOS sensor. The breast equivalent phantom used was an elastically compressible gel of polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL). Hydroxyapatite was used to simulate microcalcifications with thicknesses ranging from 50 to 500 μm. The custom made phantom was irradiated with 40kVp and 70kVp. Tungsten (W) anode spectra filtered with 100μm Cadmium and 1000pm Copper, for the low- and high-energy, respectively. Microcalcifications with thicknesses 300μm or higher can be detected with mean glandular dose (MGD) of 1.62mGy.

[发布机构] Department of Medical Physics, Medical School, University of Patras, Rion, Patras, Greece^1;Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Egaleo, Athens, Greece^2;Department of Medical Laboratories, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Egaleo, Athens, Greece^3;Medical Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Egaleo, Athens, Greece^4

[效力级别] 医药卫生 [学科分类] 卫生学

[关键词] Breast microcalcification;Calcification detections;Dual-energy imaging;High resolution;Mean glandular dose;Microcalcifications;Prototype system;Tungsten anode X-ray tube