X-ray cone-beam breast computed tomography: Phantoms studies on microcalcifications Visibility

Author

Lauria, Adele ; Mettivier, G. ; Montesi, Maria Cristina ; Russo, P.

Author_Institution

Dipt. di Sci. Fisiche, Univ. di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy

fYear

2009

fDate

Oct. 24 2009-Nov. 1 2009

Firstpage

3965

Lastpage

3969

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the microcalcifications (MCs) detection capability of the BCT (Breast Computed Tomograph) scanner developed at by our group. The studies have been conducted using a breast phantom with MC inclusions simulated by small fragments of egg-shell (dimensions 350÷450 Â¿m). The MCs are positioned in a cluster configuration in regions of interest (ROI) with a diameter of about 8 mm at different depths inside the phantom. The better conditions for MCs visibility/detectability have been investigated as a function of the detector pixel size (50, 200 Â¿m), at different air Kerma (5, 7.5, 9 mGy) at X-ray tube voltage 80 kVp.

Keywords

biological organs; computerised tomography; image reconstruction; image resolution; medical image processing; phantoms; X-ray cone-beam breast computed tomography; X-ray tube voltage; air Kerma; breast phantom; detector pixel size; egg-shell small fragments; microcalcifications; radiation absorbed dose 5 mGy; radiation absorbed dose 7.5 mGy; radiation absorbed dose 9 mGy; reconstruction voxel; size 200 mum; size 50 mum; Breast; Computed tomography; Imaging phantoms; Nuclear and plasma sciences; X-ray imaging;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC), 2009 IEEE

Conference_Location

Orlando, FL

ISSN

1095-7863

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-3961-4

Electronic_ISBN

1095-7863

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/NSSMIC.2009.5401556

Filename

5401556