T E Gureyev1,2,3,4, Ya I Nesterets4,5, P M Baran1, S T Taba2, S C Mayo5, D Thompson4,5, B Arhatari1,6, A Mihocic6, B Abbey6, D Lockie7, J Fox3, B Kumar3, Z Prodanovic3, D Hausermann8, A Maksimenko8, C Hall8, A G Peele8, M Dimmock3, K M Pavlov3,4,9, M Cholewa10, S Lewis2, G Tromba11, H M Quiney1, P C Brennan2. 1. The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia. 2. The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, 2141, Australia. 3. Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Australia. 4. University of New England, Armidale, 2351, Australia. 5. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Clayton, 3168, Australia. 6. La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Australia. 7. Maroondah BreastScreen, Ringwood East, 3135, Australia. 8. Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO, Clayton, 3168, Australia. 9. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8041, New Zealand. 10. University of Rzeszow, 35-310, Rzeszow, Poland. 11. Elettra Sincrotrone, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-CT) is a method for three-dimensional x-ray imaging that utilizes refraction, as well as absorption, of x rays in the tissues to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the resultant images, in comparison with equivalent conventional absorption-only x-ray tomography (CT). Importantly, the higher SNR is achieved without sacrificing spatial resolution or increasing the radiation dose delivered to the imaged tissues. The present work has been carried out in the context of the current development of a breast CT imaging facility at the Australian Synchrotron. METHODS: Seven unfixed complete mastectomy samples with and without breast cancer lesions have been imaged using absorption-only CT and PB-CT techniques under controlled experimental conditions. The radiation doses delivered to the mastectomy samples during the scans were comparable to those approved for mammographic screening. Physical characteristics of the reconstructed images, such as spatial resolution and SNR, have been measured and compared with the results of the radiological quality assessment of the complete absorption CT and PB-CT image stacks. RESULTS: Despite the presence of some image artefacts, the PB-CT images have outperformed comparable absorption CT images collected at the same radiation dose, in terms of both the measured objective image characteristics and the radiological image scores. The outcomes of these experiments are shown to be consistent with predictions of the theory of PB-CT imaging and previous reported experimental studies of this imaging modality. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented in this paper demonstrate that PB-CT holds a high potential for improving on the quality and diagnostic value of images obtained using existing medical x-ray technologies, such as mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). If implemented at suitable synchrotron imaging facilities, PB-CT can be used to complement existing imaging modalities, leading to more accurate breast cancer diagnosis.
PURPOSE: Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-CT) is a method for three-dimensional x-ray imaging that utilizes refraction, as well as absorption, of x rays in the tissues to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the resultant images, in comparison with equivalent conventional absorption-only x-ray tomography (CT). Importantly, the higher SNR is achieved without sacrificing spatial resolution or increasing the radiation dose delivered to the imaged tissues. The present work has been carried out in the context of the current development of a breast CT imaging facility at the Australian Synchrotron. METHODS: Seven unfixed complete mastectomy samples with and without breast cancer lesions have been imaged using absorption-only CT and PB-CT techniques under controlled experimental conditions. The radiation doses delivered to the mastectomy samples during the scans were comparable to those approved for mammographic screening. Physical characteristics of the reconstructed images, such as spatial resolution and SNR, have been measured and compared with the results of the radiological quality assessment of the complete absorption CT and PB-CT image stacks. RESULTS: Despite the presence of some image artefacts, the PB-CT images have outperformed comparable absorption CT images collected at the same radiation dose, in terms of both the measured objective image characteristics and the radiological image scores. The outcomes of these experiments are shown to be consistent with predictions of the theory of PB-CT imaging and previous reported experimental studies of this imaging modality. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented in this paper demonstrate that PB-CT holds a high potential for improving on the quality and diagnostic value of images obtained using existing medical x-ray technologies, such as mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). If implemented at suitable synchrotron imaging facilities, PB-CT can be used to complement existing imaging modalities, leading to more accurate breast cancer diagnosis.
Authors: Seyedamir Tavakoli Taba; Patrycja Baran; Yakov I Nesterets; Serena Pacile; Susanne Wienbeck; Christian Dullin; Konstantin Pavlov; Anton Maksimenko; Darren Lockie; Sheridan C Mayo; Harry M Quiney; Diego Dreossi; Fulvia Arfelli; Giuliana Tromba; Sarah Lewis; Timur E Gureyev; Patrick C Brennan Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2020-01-23 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: C L Walsh; P Tafforeau; W L Wagner; D J Jafree; A Bellier; C Werlein; M P Kühnel; E Boller; S Walker-Samuel; J L Robertus; D A Long; J Jacob; S Marussi; E Brown; N Holroyd; D D Jonigk; M Ackermann; P D Lee Journal: Nat Methods Date: 2021-11-04 Impact factor: 28.547
Authors: Muhammad U Ghani; Laurie L Fajardo; Farid Omoumi; Aimin Yan; Peter Jenkins; Molly Wong; Yuhua Li; Michael E Peterson; Edward J Callahan; Stephen L Hillis; Bin Zheng; Xizeng Wu; Hong Liu Journal: Phys Med Biol Date: 2021-10-29 Impact factor: 3.609
Authors: Muhammad U Ghani; Xizeng Wu; Laurie L Fajardo; Zhengxue Jing; Molly D Wong; Bin Zheng; Farid Omoumi; Yuhua Li; Aimin Yan; Peter Jenkins; Stephen L Hillis; Laura Linstroth; Hong Liu Journal: Med Phys Date: 2021-04-01 Impact factor: 4.071
Authors: Lisa Heck; Elena Eggl; Susanne Grandl; Martin Dierolf; Christoph Jud; Benedikt Günther; Klaus Achterhold; Doris Mayr; Bernhard Gleich; Karin Hellerhoff; Franz Pfeiffer; Julia Herzen Journal: J Med Imaging (Bellingham) Date: 2020-04-22
Authors: Sarina Wan; Benedicta D Arhatari; Yakov I Nesterets; Sheridan C Mayo; Darren Thompson; Jane Fox; Beena Kumar; Zdenka Prodanovic; Daniel Hausermann; Anton Maksimenko; Christopher Hall; Matthew Dimmock; Konstantin M Pavlov; Darren Lockie; Mary Rickard; Ziba Gadomkar; Alaleh Aminzadeh; Elham Vafa; Andrew Peele; Harry M Quiney; Sarah Lewis; Timur E Gureyev; Patrick C Brennan; Seyedamir Tavakoli Taba Journal: J Med Imaging (Bellingham) Date: 2021-07-12
Authors: C Walsh; P Tafforeau; Willi L Wagner; D J Jafree; A Bellier; C Werlein; M P Kühnel; E Boller; S Walker-Samuel; J L Robertus; D A Long; J Jacob; S Marussi; E Brown; N Holroyd; D D Jonigk; M Ackermann; P D Lee Journal: bioRxiv Date: 2021-02-03