We introduce a modified Tikhonov regularization method to include three-dimensional x-ray mammography as a prior in the diffuse optical tomography reconstruction. With simulations we show that the optical image reconstruction resolution and contrast are improved by implementing this x-ray-guided spatial constraint. We suggest an approach to find the optimal regularization parameters. The presented preliminary clinical result indicates the utility of the method.

We describe what is, to the best of our knowledge, the first pilot study of coregistered tomographic x-ray and optical breast imaging. The purpose of this pilot study is to develop both hardware and data processing algorithms for a multimodality imaging method that provides information that neither x-ray nor diffuse optical tomography (DOT) can provide alone. We present in detail the instrumentation and algorithms developed for this multimodality imaging. We also present results from our initial pilot clinical tests. These results demonstrate that strictly coregistered x-ray and optical images enable a detailed comparison of the two images. This comparison will ultimately lead to a better understanding of the relationship between the functional contrast afforded by optical imaging and the structural contrast provided by x-ray imaging.

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assistance with the cryostat and vacuum system are also acknowledged.The advice on infrared detection and the loan of equipment from Impurity compensation of the majority carrier is addressed in this theory and is shown to have a significant effect on the noise and the response characteristics of this class of detectors.