Maximizing microcalcification detectability in low-dose dedicated cone-beam breast CT: parallel cascades-based theoretical analysis.

Purpose: We aim to determine the combination of X-ray spectrum and detector scintillator thickness that maximizes the detectability of microcalcification clusters in dedicated cone-beam breast CT.

Approach: A cascaded linear system analysis was implemented in the spatial frequency domain and was used to determine the detectability index using numerical observers for the imaging task of detecting a microcalcification cluster with 0.17 mm diameter calcium carbonate spheres.

Dedicated cone-beam breast CT: Data acquisition strategies based on projection angle-dependent normalized glandular dose coefficients.

Background: Dedicated cone-beam breast computed tomography (CBBCT) using short-scan acquisition is being actively investigated to potentially reduce the radiation dose to the breast. This would require determining the optimal x-ray source trajectory for such short-scan acquisition.

Purpose: To quantify the projection angle-dependent normalized glandular dose coefficient ( ) in CBBCT, referred to as angular , so that the x-ray ray source trajectory that minimizes the radiation dose to the breast for short-scan acquisition can be determined.

Cone-beam breast CT using an offset detector: effect of detector offset and image reconstruction algorithm.

A dedicated cone-beam breast computed tomography (BCT) using a high-resolution, low-noise detector operating in offset-detector geometry has been developed. This study investigates the effects of varying detector offsets and image reconstruction algorithms to determine the appropriate combination of detector offset and reconstruction algorithm.Projection datasets (300 projections in 360°) of 30 breasts containing calcified lesions that were acquired using a prototype cone-beam BCT system comprising a 40 × 30 cm flat-panel detector with 1024 × 768 detector pixels were reconstructed using Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (FDK) algorithm and served as the reference.

Radiation dosimetry of a clinical prototype dedicated cone-beam breast CT system with offset detector.

Purpose: A clinical-prototype, dedicated, cone-beam breast computed tomography (CBBCT) system with offset detector is undergoing clinical evaluation at our institution. This study is to estimate the normalized glandular dose coefficients ( ) that provide air kerma-to-mean glandular dose conversion factors using Monte Carlo simulations.

Materials And Methods: The clinical prototype CBBCT system uses 49 kV x-ray spectrum with 1.