Digital Mammography: from Theory to Practice

Abstract

Components Analog Digital X-ray tube (target) Molybdenum or rhodium Molybdenum or rhodium or tungsten Grid stationary or moving optional Exposure time 2 -3 sec 1 -6 sec Average dose per view less than 3.0 mGy comparable to analog or less Detector type screen-film cassette solid-state device (linear or 2D) Detector size 18 x 24 cm or 24 x 30 cm 18 x 23 cm or 19 x 25 cm Spatial resolution 15 -20 lp/mm (33 -25 µm) 5 -13 lp/mm (100 -40 µm) Image contrast resolution approximately 0.04 comparable to analog or better Dynamic range (latitude) 25 -100 5,000 -10,000 Noise quantum and film granularity quantum and electronic Image development wet processing wet or dry laser printers or digital Image display light box CRT and/or light box Image processing film processing CAD/post-processing Components and Characteristics of Analog and Digital Mammography Systems From Yaffe MJ, 8 Cheung L, 9 and Williams MB. 10

MPGD for breast cancer prevention: a high resolution and low dose radiation medical imaging

“…They are distinguishable in mammograms by visual examination only in clusters between 100 and 1000 µm of diameter. The existing digital mammography provides spatial resolution images between 100 to 200 µm, where it is impossible to detect a single microcalcification of characteristic size below 1 µm [6,7]. MPGDs and associated technologies [4,8], with image processing methods based on new concepts and efficient software [9,10], have the potential to substantially increase the early detection of breast cancer to considerably improve survival and cure.…”