RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RADIATION DOSE AND IMAGE QUALITY IN DIGITAL BREAST TOMOSYNTHESIS

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and digital mammography (DM) are crucial for breast cancer screening.
• Understanding and optimizing radiation dose in these modalities is essential for patient safety.
• Previous studies have explored dose variations, but further investigation into reduction potential is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare radiation doses between DBT and DM.
• To evaluate the feasibility of dose reduction strategies for both imaging techniques.
• To assess the impact of dose reduction on image quality and lesion detectability.

Main Methods:

• A phantom-based study was conducted using various thicknesses (10-60 mm) and four dose levels.
• Mean glandular dose was measured using a solid-state dosemeter.
• Image quality and simulated lesion visibility were assessed by eleven readers, with data analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

Main Results:

• At a typical breast thickness of 50 mm, DBT dose was 13% higher than DM, with dose differential varying by thickness.
• Mass visibility remained comparable to a 100% reference dose image with 75% dose reduction in DBT and 50% in DM.
• Microcalcification visibility was comparable to the reference image for both modalities at 50% dose reduction.

Conclusions:

• This study demonstrates significant potential for radiation dose reduction in both DBT and DM.
• Optimized dose levels can be achieved without compromising the visibility of key mammographic features like masses and microcalcifications.
• Further research into dose reduction protocols can enhance the safety profile of breast cancer screening.