Breast tomosynthesis with monochromatic beams: a feasibility study using Monte Carlo simulations

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Breast tomosynthesis (BT) is an advanced mammography technique for breast cancer screening.
• Optimizing image quality while reducing radiation dose is crucial for patient safety and diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of monochromatic X-ray beams on breast tomosynthesis image quality compared to traditional polychromatic beams.
• To assess the potential for dose reduction with monochromatic beams without compromising diagnostic performance.

Main Methods:

• Simulated breast tomosynthesis and mammography imaging using monochromatic (19 keV) and polychromatic (28 kVp) X-ray beams.
• Utilized computational breast models (homogeneous and heterogeneous) with simulated masses and calcifications.
• Employed Monte Carlo simulations for X-ray transport analysis.

Main Results:

• Monochromatic beams in BT yielded higher image quality, particularly in contrast, compared to polychromatic beams.
• Image quality improvements ranged from 15% to 33% for different lesions and breast compositions.
• Achieved comparable signal-difference-to-noise ratio and enhanced contrast at lower mean glandular doses with monochromatic beams.

Conclusions:

• Monochromatic X-ray beams offer a significant advantage for breast tomosynthesis, improving visualization of subtle lesions.
• This technology has the potential to enhance early breast cancer detection through improved image detail and edge detection.
• Further research into monochromatic X-ray applications in mammography could lead to more effective and safer breast cancer screening protocols.