Authors:
R. M. Lamastra
1
;
2
;
P. Barca
1
;
2
;
M. G. Bisogni
1
;
2
;
D. Caramella
3
;
V. Rosso
1
;
2
;
R. M. Tucciariello
1
;
2
;
A. C. Traino
4
and
M. G. Fantacci
1
;
2
Affiliations:
1
Department of Physics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
;
2
INFN, Pisa Section, Pisa, Italy
;
3
Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
;
4
Unit of Medical Physics, Pisa University Hospital “Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana”, Pisa, Italy
Keyword(s):
Synthesized Mammography, Digital Breast Tomosynthesis, Image Quality, Angular Range.
Abstract:
In this work we present an image quality comparison between synthesized mammograms (SMs) obtained from Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) acquisitions with 15° (SM15) and 40° (SM40) X-ray tube angular range. In fact, since wide-angle DBT is characterized by a better spatial resolution in depth but also by worse performance in detecting microcalcifications than narrow-angle DBT, an objective image quality analysis of SM images could be of pratical interest. Four phantoms were employed in this study and their images were acquired using an Amulet Innovality mammographic device. The image quality comparison was conducted by evaluating spatial resolution, contrast and noise properties of the images. Our results show that SM40 images are characterized by better spatial resolution performance than SM15 in terms of Modulation Transfer Function but also by worse performance in the detection of low-contrast details. In fact, higher contrast-to-noise ratio values were obtained with SM15 than wi
th SM40. Noise properties of the images were also investigated through the Noise Power Spectrum (NPS) calculation: no differences in NPS shapes were found in both modalities, while noise magnitude results significantly different. In addition, Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) spatial distribution evaluation was assessed by computing SNR maps, in which different pattern were observed.
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