[Phase contrast imaging of the breast. Basic principles and steps towards clinical implementation].

CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL
METHODS: Mammography is the only imaging technique approved for nationwide breast cancer screening. Digital full field mammography has improved mammographic image quality. Nevertheless, mammography has a low positive predictive value and a low sensitivity especially in mammographically dense breasts. One of the major limitations is the inherently low contrast between healthy breast parenchyma and breast cancer. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: Phase contrast imaging is based on the phase shift that occurs when X-rays encounter a change in refractive index between different materials. PERFORMANCE: The improved soft tissue contrast makes the technology particularly promising for breast diagnostics. ACHIEVEMENTS: The studies presented here suggest that phase contrast imaging provides additional diagnostic information both using phase contrast mammography and phase contrast computed tomography (CT). PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: This paper provides an overview of the basic principles of the phase contrast imaging and describes recent developments towards in vivo and ex vivo phase contrast imaging of the breast.