Contrast-detail evaluation of a full-field digital mammography system

We have been investigating the potential of large-area flat-panel a-Si:H imaging devices for full-field digital mammography. The performance of a clinical mammographic system specially developed to provide geometric direct magnification equipped with an a-Si:H digital detector in conjunction with a series of Gd/sub 2/O/sub 2/S:Tb phosphor screens was evaluated in terms of image quality and entrance surface dose by using the contrast-detail CDMAM phantom over a range of exposure levels. We also compared the contrast-detail detectability properties of the a-Si:H-based digital imaging system with those of a conventional screen-film combination. The results from this study reveal the superiority of this prototype a-Si:H-based digital imaging system both in terms of contrast-detail resolution and significant entrance surface dose reduction in comparison with the conventional screen-film combination. These advantages are of particular significance in the breast imaging. Therefore, the combination of a-Si:H digital array with the direct magnification mammography system has the potential to fulfil the image quality requirements for full-field digital mammogarphy and to offer significant improvements in the efficient early detection of breast cancer.

[1]  I. Blevis,et al.  Digital radiology using active matrix readout of amorphous selenium: construction and evaluation of a prototype real-time detector. , 1997, Medical physics.

[2]  N Karssemeijer,et al.  Spatial Resolution in Digital Mammography , 1993, Investigative radiology.

[3]  J Yorkston,et al.  Empirical investigation of the signal performance of a high-resolution, indirect detection, active matrix flat-panel imager (AMFPI) for fluoroscopic and radiographic operation. , 1997, Medical physics.

[4]  L L Fajardo,et al.  Contrast-detail detectability analysis: comparison of a digital spot mammography system and an analog screen-film mammography system. , 1997, Academic radiology.

[5]  Thierry Ducourant,et al.  New CsI/a-Si 17" x 17" x-ray flat-panel detector provides superior detectivity and immediate direct digital output for general radiography systems , 1998, Medical Imaging.

[6]  Richard L. Weisfield,et al.  Large area amorphous silicon x-ray imagers , 1996 .

[7]  M. Säbel,et al.  Recent developments in breast imaging. , 1996, Physics in medicine and biology.

[8]  J A Rowlands,et al.  X-ray imaging with amorphous selenium: detective quantum efficiency of photoconductive receptors for digital mammography. , 1995, Medical physics.

[9]  E Grabbe,et al.  Storage phosphor direct magnification mammography in comparison with conventional screen-film mammography--a phantom study. , 1998, The British journal of radiology.

[10]  J Yorkston,et al.  Demonstration of megavoltage and diagnostic x-ray imaging with hydrogenated amorphous silicon arrays. , 1992, Medical physics.

[11]  Larry E. Antonuk,et al.  High-resolution, high-frame-rate, flat-panel TFT array for digital x-ray imaging , 1994, Medical Imaging.