Comparing image quality of five breast tomosynthesis systems based on radiologists' reviews of phantom data

Previous studies have shown differences in technical image quality between digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) systems. However, quantitative image quality measurements may not necessarily fully reflect the clinical performance of DBT.

To study the subjective image quality of five DBT systems manufactured by Fujifilm, GE, Hologic, Planmed, and Siemens using phantom images.

A TOR MAM test object with polymethyl methacrylate plates was imaged on five DBT systems from different vendors. Three DBT acquisitions were performed at mean glandular doses of 1.0 mGy, 2.0 mGy, and 3.5 mGy while maintaining a constant phantom set-up. Eight DBT acquisitions with different test plate positions and phantom set-up thicknesses were performed at clinically applied dose levels. Additionally, three conventional two-dimensional mammogram images were acquired with different phantom thicknesses. Six radiologists ranked the systems based on the visibilities of the targets seen in the phantom images.

In the DBT acquisitions performed at comparable dose levels, one system differed significantly from all other systems in microcalcification scores. When using site-specific DBT protocols, significant differences were found between the devices for microcalcification, filament, and low-contrast targets. A strong correlation was observed between the reviewer scores and radiation doses in DBT acquisitions, whereas no such correlation was observed in the 2D acquisitions.

In DBT acquisitions, dose level was found to be a major factor explaining image quality differences between the systems, regardless of other acquisition parameters. Most DBT systems performed equally well at similar dose levels.