Abstract:
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Purpose: Conventional mammography (CM) is the most effective tool for the early detection of breast cancer currently available. However, the sensitivity to detect small breast cancers and the specificity of CM remain limited owing to an overlap in the appearances of lesions and surrounding structure. We propose to address the limitations accompanying CM using flat panel detector(FPD)-based cone beam volume CT breast imaging (CBVCTBI) technique. In this study, we perform a phantom and specimen experiment to determine the feasibility of using CBVCTBI for breast cancer detection.
Methods and Materials: The CBVCTBI prototype consists of a GE 8800 CT gantry, an x-ray tube, an 25 x 20 cm Varian PaxScan2520 real time FPD(960x768x16 bits) mounted on the gantry, a CT table and a PC. An average size breast phantom for CBVCTBI consists of 10.8 cm body cylinder with 12 cm height and three inserts: a layer of silicon jell which simulates a complex background structure in breast imaging, a Lucite plate on which five simulated carcinomas are mounted, and a plate on which six calcifications are attached. The three inserts are surrounded by mineral oil to achieve ~ 80 CT number image contrast between simulated breast carcinomas and mineral oil to simulate the object contrast of a breast carcinoma against 100% glandular background. With a single scan, 288 projections over 360 degrees were acquired for all phantom scans and direct 3D reconstructions were obtained to evaluate the system for CBVCTBI applications. To perform a comparison study with CM, we use a 4.5 cm compressed phantom with the same inserts and a Lorad M IVsystem with a CM x-ray technique. In addition, a specimen study was performed to verify the finding from the phantom studies.
Results: Images of the phantoms and breast specimen from both the CBVCTBI and the CM systems will be compared. The results demonstrate that the CBVCTBI system can detect a few millimeter simulated carcinoma and 0.2 mm calcification for an average size breast with the total radiation dose less than or equal to that of a CM exam.
Conclusion: This research work demonstrates that a FPD-based CBVCTBI is a potentially powerful breast imaging tool. While CM always has an overlap problem and consequently has limited sensitivity and specificity of breast cancer detection, the CBVCTBI isolates small carcinoma from other lesions or surrounding breast tissue in adjacent planes and it will significantly improve sensitivity and specificity of breast cancer detection.
Questions about this event email: ruola@einstein.rad.rochester.edu
Ning PhD, R,
Flat Panel Detector-based Cone Beam Volume CT Breast Imaging: Phantom and Specimen Study. Radiological Society of North America 2003 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 30 - December 5, 2003 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2003/3105482.html
