Optimizing angular range in digital breast tomosynthesis: A phantom study investigating lesion detection across...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Breast Imaging Technology

Background:

• Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) is an advanced mammography technique.
• Optimizing imaging parameters like angular range (AR) is crucial for enhancing lesion detection.
• Breast density and thickness significantly impact image quality and lesion visibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the optimal angular range (AR) for digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) systems.
• To evaluate how different ARs affect lesion visibility across varying breast densities and thicknesses.
• To enhance the diagnostic performance of DBT by determining the best angular acquisition settings.

Main Methods:

• A modular DBT phantom simulating diverse breast compositions and sizes was utilized.
• A prototype DBT system acquired images using four distinct angular ranges (ARs).
• Reconstructed images were independently assessed by three radiologists for lesion visibility.

Main Results:

• Speckle visibility was optimal with ARs of ±7.5° or ±12.5°.
• Mass visibility was highest with AR ±12.5° in thin breast models.
• AR ±12.5° demonstrated the highest overall lesion visibility across all tested conditions.

Conclusions:

• The angular range of ±12.5° is recommended for DBT systems.
• This AR optimizes lesion visibility irrespective of breast density and thickness.
• Utilizing AR ±12.5° with 11 projections can improve DBT diagnostic accuracy.