Hardcopy requirements and imager characteristics for full-field digital mammography (FFDM) applications

In the near future, we will see the introduction of full field digital mammography system replacing conventional film-screen mammography. For image display and diagnosis, these digital mammography system are likely to interface with high resolution laser imagers, which can produce high quality hardcopy film output. We have developed a high resolution imager based on photothermographic dry media. Inputs from both modality manufacturers and radiologists determined the design characteristics of the imager. General features of the imager, specific features pertaining to current digital mammo modalities and user needs are presented. Additionally, we present image quality results such as contrast transfer function, grayscale reproduction, noise in the printed dry media and media and image quality control in the imager. Suggestions for quality control of the modality and the imager are described.