Yiheng Zhang PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Heang-Ping Chan PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Berkman Sahiner PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yi-Ta Wu PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chuan Zhou PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jun Ge PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jun Wei PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Lubomir M. Hadjiiski PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

We previously showed that the SART method can achieve high image quality for digital tomosynthesis mammography (DTM) reconstruction. However, reconstructed DTM slices contain strong artifacts due to the limited angular range and the truncated projection-view (PV) images, especially at large PV angles. In this work we developed methods to reduce these artifacts and improve DTM image quality.

A GE prototype DTM system was used to acquire 21 PVs in 3º increments over a ±30º angular range. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and informed consent were obtained for patient cases. 2D breast boundaries on all PV images were detected automatically and used to generate the 3D breast shape. The SART reconstruction was restricted to be performed only within the breast volume. A local smoothing method was developed to suppress the truncation artifacts caused by the changing imaged region of each PV. A compensation method was used to further address the glaring artifacts caused by the truncation of the breast tissue from the imaged volume modeled in the reconstruction algorithm. This artifact occurs mainly at the image boundary in the MLO view where the pectoral muscle is cutoff by the detector edge.

With the 2D and 3D breast boundary information, most breast boundary and detector boundary artifacts were effectively removed on all tomosynthesized slices. The local smoothing and compensation methods further reduced the remaining truncation artifacts. The proposed methods improved the overall image quality and provided satisfactory image quality in the boundary region comparable to that of non-truncated regions. The obscured breast structural information near the truncated edge of the reconstructed slices was essentially recovered. The restriction of SART reconstruction to within the breast volume increased the computation efficiency.

The DTM image quality by SART is improved by using the proposed artifact reduction methods, especially in boundary regions where the PV images are truncated. The computation time of SART is reduced substantially by using the 2D and 3D breast boundary information.

DTM image quality can impact breast cancer detection.

Zhang, Y, Chan, H, Sahiner, B, Wu, Y, Zhou, C, Ge, J, Wei, J, Hadjiiski, L, et al, , et al, , Breast Tomosynthesis Reconstruction with Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (SART): Truncation Artifact and Boundary Artifact Reduction.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5014627.html