[Needle crystal detector technology in mammography--relationship between image quality and dose depending on beam...

Compared with traditional CR storage phosphor plates, CR needle crystal technology used in mammography claims to allow for better image quality using a lower dose. Image quality and dose behavior are evaluated for multiple breast thicknesses (simulated with PMMA slabs) on the Agfa DX-M system with needle crystal detectors (HM5.0) and optimized for possible different beam qualities.

Technical image quality was determined using the CDMAM phantom with subsequent "automatic readout" by considering limiting values as specified in the EUREF guideline. For dose, the calculated average glandular dose was used.

With CR needle crystal detectors, comparable image quality can already be achieved with an approximately 50% lower dose than required for traditional plates. In addition, CR needle crystal technology makes it possible to also reach the achievable EUREF limit values without exceeding the dose limit values specified in EUREF. It was also found that the usage of W/Rh instead of Mo/Rh is beneficial for a 50 mm as well as 70 mm PMMA with regards to better image quality and a lower dose.

The needle crystal technology with the Agfa DX-M system supports equivalent CDMAM image quality with an approximately 50% lower AGD compared to powder-based CR. An additional dose reduction can be achieved by using W/Rh instead of Mo/Rh.