Enhancement of breast calcification visualization and detection using a modified PG method in Cone Beam Breast CT.

Cone Beam Breast CT is a promising diagnostic modality in breast imaging. Its isotropic 3D spatial resolution enhances the characterization of micro-calcifications in breasts that might not be easily distinguishable in mammography. However, due to dose level considerations, it is beneficial to further enhance the visualization of calcifications in Cone Beam Breast CT images that might be masked by noise. In this work, the Papoulis-Gerchberg method was modified and implemented in Cone Beam Breast CT images to improve the visualization and detectability of calcifications. First, the PG method was modified and applied to the projections acquired during the scanning process; its effects on the reconstructed images were analyzed by measuring the Modulation Transfer Function and the Noise Power Spectrum. Second, Cone Beam Breast CT images acquired at different dose levels were pre-processed using this technique to enhance the visualization of calcification. Finally, a computer-aided diagnostic algorithm was utilized to evaluate the efficacy of this method to improve calcification detectability. The results demonstrated that this technique can effectively improve image quality by improving the Modulation Transfer Function with a minor increase in noise level. Consequently, the visualization and detectability of calcifications were improved in Cone Beam Breast CT images. This technique was also proved to be useful in reducing the x-ray dose without degrading visualization and detectability of calcifications.

NPS characterization and evaluation of a cone beam CT breast imaging system.

The Noise Power Spectrum (NPS) is a function that yields information about the spatial frequency composition of noise in images obtained by a system. It is evaluated by calculating the absolute value squared of the noise image and normalizing it with respect to the voxel and matrix sizes. Consequently, the NPS has been one of the physical characteristics that is commonly used to quantitatively measure the physical performance of a system. In this article, we evaluated the NPS of a Cone Beam CT Breast Imaging system by considering the following factors. First, we evaluated its symmetry around the x- and y-axis along with the influence of the cone angle and the matrix size on the NPS. Then, an analytical curve was suggested to best represent the NPS. Second, we analyzed the influence on the NPS of a set of seven parameters, namely the pixel size, exposure level, kVp value, number of projections acquired, voxel size, back projection filter, and the reconstruction algorithm employed. In addition, since the breast induced scattering in the image, we investigated the effect of the scattering-correction algorithm used in this system. Finally, we evaluated the uniformity of the NPS as a function of z with the matrix center located at {r = 0 mm}. The results demonstrate that the proposed curve is an ideal candidate that best represents the NPS. Hence, two parameters, the amplitude (A) and the width (sigma), can be used to characterize the curve. The results also demonstrate that the voxel size and the cone angle are the only two parameters investigated in this study that do not affect the NPS. On the other hand, the matrix and pixel sizes, the back-projection filter and the reconstruction algorithm, the exposure level and the scattering correction, all influence the NPS. Finally, the results of the last part of this investigation suggest that this imaging system does not have a 3D isotropic noise distribution along the z-axis; yielding less noisy images at around z = 0.00 m and z = 80 mm.

Measurements of the modulation transfer function, normalized noise power spectrum and detective quantum efficiency for two flat panel detectors: a fluoroscopic and a cone beam computer tomography flat panel detectors.

The physical performance of two Flat Panel Detectors has been evaluated. The first Flat Panel Detector is for Fluoroscopic applications, Varian PaxScan 2520, and the second is for Cone Beam Computer Tomography applications, Varian PaxScan 4030CB. First, the spectrum of the X-ray source was measured. Second, the linearity of the detectors was investigated by using an ionization chamber and the average ADU values of the detectors. Third, the temporal resolution was characterized by evaluating their image lag. Fourth, their spatial resolution was characterized by the pre-sampling Modulation Transfer Function. Fifth, the Normalized Noise Power Spectrum was calculated for various exposures levels. Finally, the Detective Quantum Efficiency was obtained as a function of spatial frequency and entrance exposure. The results illustrate that the physical performance in Detective Quantum Efficiency and Normalized Noise Power Spectrum of the Cone Beam Computer Tomography detector is superior to that of the fluoroscopic detector whereas the latter detector has a higher spatial resolution as demonstrated by larger values of its Modulation Transfer Function at large spatial frequencies.