| 1. |
- Fredenberg, Erik, PhD, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
-
Optimization of mammography with respect to anatomical noise
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Medical Imaging 2011. - : SPIE.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Beam quality optimization in mammography traditionally considers detection of a target obscured by quantum noise on a homogenous background. It can be argued that this scheme does not correspond well to the clinical imaging task because real mammographic images contain a complex superposition of anatomical structures, resulting in anatomical noise that may dominate over quantum noise. Using a newly developed spectral mammography system, we measured the correlation and magnitude of the anatomical noise in a set of mammograms. The results from these measurements were used as input to an observer-model optimization that included quantum noise as well as anatomical noise. We found that, within this framework, the detectability of tumors and microcalcifications behaved very differently with respect to beam quality and dose. The results for small microcalcifications were similar to what traditional optimization methods would yield, which is to be expected since quantum noise dominates over anatomical noise at high spatial frequencies. For larger tumors, however, low-frequency anatomical noise was the limiting factor. Because anatomical structure has similar energy dependence as tumor contrast, optimal x-ray energy was significantly higher and the useful energy region wider than traditional methods suggest. Measurements on a tissue phantom confirmed these theoretical results. Furthermore, since quantum noise constitutes only a small fraction of the noise, the dose could be reduced substantially without sacrificing tumor detectability. Exposure settings used clinically are therefore not necessarily optimal for this imaging task. The impact of these findings on the mammographic imaging task as a whole is, however, at this stage unclear.
|
|
| 2. |
- Norell, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
Lesion characterization using spectral mammography
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Medical Imaging 2012. - : SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a novel method for characterizing mammographic findings using spectral imaging without the use of contrast agent. Within a statistical framework, suspicious findings are analyzed to determine if they are likely to be benign cystic lesions or malignant tissue. To evaluate the method, we have designed a phantom where combinations of different tissue types are realized by decomposition into the material bases aluminum and polyethylene. The results indicate that the lesion size limit for reliable characterization is below 10 mm diameter, when quantum noise is the only considered source of uncertainty. Furthermore, preliminary results using clinical images are encouraging, but allow no conclusions with significance.
|
|
| 3. |
- Svensson, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
Variable height multi-slit collimator and optimized image reconstruction in a photon-counting system for digital mammography
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 648, s. S216-S219
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have investigated a pre-breast collimator able to operate at variable heights for a photon-counting scanned multi-slit mammography system. A prototype system was built and used to evaluate how different collimator heights combined with optimized collimator slit widths affect dose efficiency and scan time. Moreover, new image construction software which takes into account the sub-pixel shift of each detector line was implemented and evaluated. With maintained scan time a collimator 79 mm above patient support improved dose efficiency for a 100 mu m disc by 12% and by 22% for a scan time extended by 10%. For image reconstruction and the same disc size a dose efficiency improvement of 32% +/- 9% was measured indicating a higher gain than expected. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 4. |
- Berggren, Karl, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
-
Characterization of photon-counting multislit breast tomosynthesis
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Medical Physics. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2473-4209 .- 0094-2405.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: It has been shown that breast tomosynthesis may improve sensitivity and specificity compared to two-dimensional mammography, resulting in increased detection-rate of cancers or lowered call-back rates. The purpose of this study is to characterize a spectral photon-counting multislit breast tomosynthesis system that is able to do single-scan spectral imaging with multiple collimated x-ray beams. The system differs in many aspects compared to conventional tomosynthesis using energyintegrating flat-panel detectors. Methods: The investigated system was a prototype consisting of a dual-threshold photon-counting detector with 21 collimated line detectors scanning across the compressed breast. A review of the system is done in terms of detector, acquisition geometry, and reconstruction methods. Three reconstruction methods were used, simple back-projection, filtered back-projection and an iterative algebraic reconstruction technique. The image quality was evaluated by measuring the modulation transfer-function (MTF), normalized noise-power spectrum, detective quantum-efficiency (DQE), and artifact spread-function (ASF) on reconstructed spectral tomosynthesis images for a total-energy bin (defined by a low-energy threshold calibrated to remove electronic noise) and for a high-energy bin (with a threshold calibrated to split the spectrum in roughly equal parts). Acquisition was performed using a 29 kVp W/Al x-ray spectrum at a 0.24 mGy exposure. Results: The difference in MTF between the two energy bins was negligible, that is, there was no energy dependence on resolution. The MTF dropped to 50% at 1.5 lp/mm to 2.3 lp/mm in the scan direction and 2.4 lp/mm to 3.3 lp/mm in the slit direction, depending on the reconstruction method. The full width at half maximum of the ASF was found to range from 13.8 mm to 18.0 mm for the different reconstruction methods. The zero-frequency DQE of the system was found to be 0.72. The fraction of counts in the high-energy bin was measured to be 59% of the total detected spectrum. Scantimes ranged from 4 s to 16.5 s depending on voltage and current settings. Conclusions: The characterized system generates spectral tomosynthesis images with a dual-energy photon-counting detector. Measurements show a high DQE, enabling high image quality at a low dose, which is beneficial for low-dose applications such as screening. The single-scan spectral images open up for applications such as quantitative material decomposition and contrast-enhanced tomosynthesis.
|
|
| 5. |
- Berggren, Karl, et al.
(författare)
-
Technical Note: Comparison of first‐ and second‐generation photon‐counting slit‐scanning tomosynthesis systems
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Medical physics (Lancaster). - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0094-2405. ; 45:2, s. 635-638
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an emerging tool for breast-cancer screening and diagnostics. The purpose of this study is to present a second-generation photon-counting slitscanning DBT system and compare it to the first-generation system in terms of geometry and image quality. The study presents the first image-quality measurements on the second-generation system. Method: The geometry of the new system is based on a combined rotational and linear motion, in contrast to a purely rotational scan motion in the first generation. In addition, the calibration routines have been updated. Image quality was measured in the center of the image field in terms of in-slice modulation transfer function (MTF), artifact spread function (ASF), and in-slice detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Images were acquired using a W/Al 29 kVp spectrum at 13 mAs with 2 mm Al additional filtration and reconstructed using simple back-projection. Result: The in-slice 50% MTF was improved in the chest-mammilla direction, going from 3.2 to 3.5 lp/mm, and the zero-frequency DQE increased from 0.71 to 0.77. The MTF and ASF were otherwise found to be on par for the two systems. The new system has reduced in-slice variation of the tomographic angle. Conclusions: The new geometry is less curved, which reduces in-slice tomographic-angle variation, and increases the maximum compression height, making the system accessible for a larger population. The improvements in MTF and DQE were attributed to the updated calibration procedures. We conclude that the second-generation system maintains the key features of the photon-counting system while maintaining or improving image quality and improving the maximum compression height.
|
|
| 6. |
- Berglund, Johan, et al.
(författare)
-
Energy weighting improves dose efficiency in clinical practice : implementation on a spectral photon-counting mammography system.
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Medical Imaging. - 2329-4302 .- 2329-4310. ; 1:3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In x-ray imaging, contrast information content varies with photon energy. It is, therefore, possible to improve image quality by weighting photons according to energy. We have implemented and evaluated so-called energy weighting on a commercially available spectral photon-counting mammography system. The technique was evaluated using computer simulations, phantom experiments, and analysis of screening mammograms. The CNR benefit of energy weighting for a number of relevant target-background combinations measured by the three methods fell in the range of 2.2 to 5.2% when using optimal weight factors. This translates to a potential dose reduction at constant CNR in the range of 4.5 to 11%. We expect the choice of weight factor in practical implementations to be straightforward because (1) the CNR improvement was not very sensitive to weight, (2) the optimal weight was similar for all investigated target-background combinations, (3) aluminum/PMMA phantoms were found to represent clinically relevant tasks well, and (4) the optimal weight could be calculated directly from pixel values in phantom images. Reasonable agreement was found between the simulations and phantom measurements. Manual measurements on microcalcifications and automatic image analysis confirmed that the CNR improvement was detectable in energy-weighted screening mammograms.
|
|
| 7. |
- Cederström, Björn, 1973-
(författare)
-
A multi-prism lens for hard X-Rays
- 2002
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis describes a new type of refractive lens for hardx-rays. It is shown that a linear array of prisms, slightlyinclined with respect to the optical axis, will form a linefocus at a certain distance from the lens. Hence, the namemulti-prism lens. These lenses are free from sphericalaberration and are similar to planar parabolic compoundrefractive lenses in terms of performance. However, theydistinguish themselves in that only planar surfaces need to befabricated. A special feature is that the focal length can beeasily varied by adjusting the inclination angle. Theoretical calculations, based on geometrical and physicaloptics, are used to characterize the lenses. Aberrations arediscussed, as well as the sensitivity to fabricationimperfections, and insufficient flatness is identified as apotential problem. Ray-tracing is used to test theapproximations and assumptions used in the theory. Applicationsin x-ray microscopy and mammography are discussed. Lenses have been made of beryllium, silicon, epoxy anddiamond using different methods. Results from measurements ofsurface roughness and figure error show that the imperfectionsof the silicon and epoxy lenses should have a small impact,while the beryllium lenses should suffer from strongscattering. Experiments were performed at the EuropeanSynchrotron Radiation Facility and sub-µm focal linewidths, close to theoretical expectations, were measured forsilicon and epoxy lenses at 30 keV and 14 keV, respectively.Insertion gains up to 40 were reached. Two crossed lenses wereused to obtain focusing in two dimensions and a point focus.The smallest measured focal spot size was 1.0 µm by 5 .4µm, and an insertion gain exceeding 100 was achieved usingepoxy lenses. The diamond lenses suffered from voids in the materialformed in the chemical vapor deposition process, butnevertheless provided focal lines less than 2 µm in width,albeit at at relatively low insertion gain of 13. Due to theirexcellent thermal properties, these lenses are put forward ascandidates for optics at the next generationultra-high-intensity synchrotron beams and x-ray free electronlasers. Keywords:x-ray, optics, refractive, lens, mammography,synchrotron.
|
|
| 8. |
- Cederström, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
Comparison of photon-counting to storage phosphor plate mammography using contrast-detail phantom analysis
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 580:2, s. 1101-1104
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Two digital mammography systems, one based on scanning photon counting silicon detectors and the other on storage phosphor plates (CR), have been compared in terms of image quality and dose. Sets of images of a contrast-detail phantom (CDMAM3.4) were acquired for each system and dose level. The images were evaluated in the disc diameter range 0.16-1 mm using a computer program (CDcom) and the results were fitted to a psychometric curve for each disc diameter. The contrast-detail curve was summarized into one single figure of merit, the image quality index, and the dose efficiency was calculated. The errors of the calculated parameters were assessed using statistical analysis. It was found that the scanning photon-counting system can achieve the same image quality as the storage phosphor plate (CR) system at 30-38% of the average glandular dose.
|
|
| 9. |
- Cederström, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
Focusing hard X-rays with old LPs
- 2000
-
Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 404:6781, s. 951-951
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
|
|
| 10. |
- Cederström, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
Generalized prism-array lenses for hard X-rays
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. - : International Union of Crystallography (IUCr). - 0909-0495 .- 1600-5775. ; 12, s. 340-344
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A Fresnel-like X-ray lens can be constructed by a triangular array of identical prisms whose base corresponds to the 2 pi-shift length. Each column of prisms is progressively shifted from the optical axis by an arbitrary fraction of the prism height. Similarly to the multi-prism lens, quasi-parabolic profiles are formed by a superposition of straight-line segments. The resulting projected lens profile is approximately linear with a Fresnel-lens pattern superimposed on it to provide the focusing. This geometry exhibits a significantly larger effective aperture than conventional parabolic refractive lenses. Prototype lenses were fabricated by deep reactive ion etching of silicon. These one-dimensionally focusing lenses were tested at a synchrotron beamline and provided focal line-widths down to 1.4 mu m FWHM and an intensity gain of 39 at a photon energy of 13.4 keV. Fabrication imperfections gave rise to unwanted interference effects resulting in several intensity maxima in the focal plane. The presented design allows the focal length to be shortened without decreasing the feature size of the lens. Furthermore, this feature size does not limit the resolution as for real Fresnel optics.
|
|
