Hilde Bosmans PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Kim Lemmens MSC, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jurgen Jacobs, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Beatrijs Verbrugge MSC, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Federica Zanca MSC, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Joris Nens MSC, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Koen Michielsen MSC, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kristien Smans MEng, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

André Van Steen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Guy Jacques Marchal MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare the technical image quality of Computed Radiography (CR) plates with CsBr needle shaped crystals for mammography to current CR and Direct Radiology (DR) systems using contrast-detail analysis

Two new needle based CR plates were investigated, respectively from Agfa-HealthCare (Belgium) and Konica-Minolta (Japan). The first CR system is work-in-progress, the second plate (CP1M200)is commercially available and used with the Regius190 reader. These new CR systems were compared to current CR systems of the same companies, to the CR Profect system with dual-side reading (Fuji, Japan) and to a DR system using W/Rh (Siemens Novation, Germany). Technical image quality was assessed with a Contrast-detail (C-D) analysis using the CDMAM 3.4 phantom (Artinis, The Netherlands), 4cm of PMMA and 16 input images per exposure setting. Exposure settings included 28kV and several mean glandular doses (MGD) at different anode filter combinations. Threshold thicknesses for a series of diameters were obtained using computerized readings with cdcom.exe (www.euref.org) followed by Gaussian filtering, psychometric curve fit and conversion to a predicted human readings using the method proposed by K. Young.  

The coefficient of variation on thickness thresholds for all diameters was less than 4%. At the critical diameter of 0.1mm, Mo/Rh and a MGD of 2.4mGy, the threshold thickness decreased significantly from conventional plates to the new plates, from 1.51 µm to 1.26 µm (Agfa-HealthCare), and from 1.40 µm to 1.29 µm (Konica-Minolta), p<0.01. The Fuji Profect system achieves a threshold thickness of 1.36 µm for the same dose and anode/filter combination. Higher energy spectra improve the results further. The CP1M200 plate achieved a threshold thickness of 1.1 µm at a dose of 2.3 mGy using the W/Rh beam quality. The Siemens DR systems achieve this desirable level using the same anode/filter at lower doses, for 3 different systems respectively at 1.1mGy, 1.6mGy and 1.9mGy. Results for the Agfa needle CR plates are similar, and in progress.  

Crystal based CR plates for mammographic applications outperform actual CR systems especially with high energy beam qualities.

The new needle-crystalline Computed Radiography plates for mammography are promising technology. These technical findings should be confirmed with clinical studies.

Bosmans, H, Lemmens, K, Jacobs, J, Verbrugge, B, Zanca, F, Nens, J, Michielsen, K, Smans, K, Van Steen, A, Marchal, G, et al, , Comparison of Needle-Crystalline Computed Radiography Plates for Mammography to Current Digital Radiography Systems: A Contrast Detail Analysis.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6006876.html