[Simultaneous Optimization of Signal Difference to Noise Ratio and Mean Glandular Dose for Automatic Exposure Control...

In mammography, it is desirable for the patient's mean glandular dose (MGD) to be minimal while the signal difference to noise ratio (SDNR) of lesions remains high. However, these two factors are inversely related, and the optimal automatic exposure control (AEC) settings have not been clearly defined. Even the quality assurance programme for digital mammography by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) specifies only acceptable and achievable SDNR and MGD values for AEC settings, based on the mammography machine model and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom thickness. In this report, we propose a method to simultaneously optimize both SDNR and MGD at AEC settings.