Image quality evaluation of breast tomosynthesis with synchrotron radiation

Purpose: This study investigates the image quality of tomosynthesis slices obtained from several acquisition sets with synchrotron radiation using a breast phantom incorporating details that mimic various breast lesions, in a heterogeneous background. Methods: A complex Breast phantom (MAMMAX) with a heterogeneous background and thickness that corresponds to 4.5 cm compressed breast with an average composition of 50% adipose and 50% glandular tissue was assembled using two commercial phantoms. Projection images using acquisition arcs of 24°, 32°, 40°, 48°, and 56° at incident energy of 17 keV were obtained from the phantom with the synchrotron radiation for medical physics beamline at ELETTRA Synchrotron Light Laboratory. The total mean glandular dose was set equal to 2.5 mGy. Tomograms were reconstructed with simple multiple projection algorithm (MPA) and filtered MPA. In the latter case, a median filter, a sinc filter, and a combination of those two filters were applied on the experimental data prior to MPA reconstruction. Visual inspection, contrast to noise ratio, contrast, and artifact spread function were the figures of merit used in the evaluation of the visualisation and detection of low- and high-contrast breast features, as a function of the reconstruction algorithm and acquisition arc. To study the benefits of using monochromatic beams, single projection images at incident energies ranging from 14 to 27 keV were acquired with the same phantom and weighted to synthesize polychromatic images at a typical incident x-ray spectrum with W target. Results: Filters were optimised to reconstruct features with different attenuation characteristics and dimensions. In the case of 6 mm low-contrast details, improved visual appearance as well as higher contrast to noise ratio and contrast values were observed for the two filtered MPA algorithms that exploit the sinc filter. These features are better visualized at extended arc length, as the acquisition arc of 56° with 15 projection images demonstrates the highest image reconstruction quality. For microcalcifications, filtered MPA implemented with a combination of median and sinc filters indicates better feature appearance due to efficient suppression of background tissue. The image quality of these features is less sensitive to the acquisition arc. Calcifications with size ranging from 170 to 500 μm, like the ones presently studied, are well identified and visualized for all arcs used. The comparison of single projection images obtained under different beam conditions showed that the use of monochromatic beam can produce an image with higher contrast and contrast to noise ratio compared to an image corresponding to a polychromatic beam even when the latter is acquired with double incident exposure. Conclusions: Filter optimization in respect to the type of feature characteristics is important before the reconstruction. The MPA combined with median and sinc filters results in improved reconstruction of microcalcifications and low-contrast features. The latter are better visualized at extended arc length, while microcalcifications are less sensitive to this acquisition parameter. Use of monochromatic beams may result in tomographic images with higher contrast acquired at lower incident exposures. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine