MIBE Online Seminar: Spectral Differential Phase Contrast X-ray Mammography

Titel: Spectral Differential Phase Contrast X-ray Mammography

Sprecher: Lisa Heck, doctoral candidate (Herzen Group)

Datum und Uhrzeit: Dienstag, 25. Januar 2022, 13:00 Uhr

Abstract: Breast cancer is a globally widespread disease whose detection has already been significantly improved by the introduction of screening programs. Nevertheless, mammography suffers from low soft tissue contrast and the superposition of diagnostically relevant anatomical structures as well as from low values for sensitivity and specificity especially for dense breast tissue. Phase-contrast X-ray imaging is a promising technique for improving conventional absorption-based mammography. This technique provides three image modalities simultaneously (absorption-contrast, phase-contrast and dark-field signal). An increased detection of breast cancer features using the phase information, or the classification of microcalcifications using the dark-field signal has been successfully demonstrated in preclinical studies. A combination of this approach with the evolving technology of spectral, energy-resolving single-photon-counting detectors is proposed to perform spectral differential phase contrast (SDPC) X-ray mammography. By using both the phase and the spectral information simultaneously, SDPC allows the acquisition of quantitative and material-specific images with lower background noise compared to absorption-based spectral imaging. The potential of SDPC for mammography is firstly evaluated in a dual-energy approach with a quasi-monochromatic X-ray source. This is followed by a simulation with a polychromatic X-ray tube employing the photon-counting detector technology. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in image quality comparing conventional spectral and SDPC imaging, i.e. noise reduction and contrast enhancement, at a clinically relevant dose level."