Mammography image quality optimization: A Monte Carlo study

1. Mammography image quality optimization: A Monte Carlo study Quintana Clara

2. Aim and procedure The aim of this work is to find the optimal irradiation parameters to improve mammography image quality. The study of the relationship between the irradiation parameters and the image quality was by means of simulated images using Monte Carlo techniques.

3. Introduction Experimental mammography image

4. Mammography image A mammography image is an special kind of breast radiography. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer.

5. Mammographyimage

6. Imagequality The image quality depends on: • Sample properties (breast tissue, kind of micro calcifications, breast size, etc…) • Detector resolution • Irradiation parameters (beam features and inserted devices)

7. Materials and methods Our mammography images

8. Simulated images

9. Sample properties • Micro calcifications • Calcium Carbonate • Calcium Oxalate • Breast size • 30mm • 50mm • 70mm • Breast tissue • 100% Glandular • 50% Glandular and 50 % Adipose • 100% Adipose

10. Irradiation parameters • X-Ray spectra (Mo anode) • 24kV accelerating potential • 34kV accelerating potential • 40kV accelerating potential • Inserted devices • Anti-scatter grid

11. Materials and methods Processing techniques

12. Processing techniques • Central axis profile • Image segmentation • Edge filters • FFT-based convolution

13. Processing techniques • FFT-based convolution

14. Results and discussion

15. Breast tissue Glandular 50-50 Adipose 34kV and 30mm

16. Micro calcification Calcium oxalate Calcium carbonate 34kV and 30mm

17. Breast size 30mm 50mm 70mm 34kV

18. Spectrum effect 24kV 34kV 40kV Breast absorbed dose [eV/(g*prim)] 92.17 123.54 136.27 30mm

19. Anti-scatter grid 24kV 34kV 40kV 30mm 50mm 30mm

20. Conclusions

21. Image quality dependence Sample properties • Breast size • Breast tissue • Calcification chemical composition Irradiation parameters • Spectral spectrum composition • Anti-scatter grid •  Strong dependence •  Soft dependence •  Low dependence •  Strong dependence •  ???

22. Irradiation parametersQuality Vs Dose Spectrum: • Harder spectrum generate better image quality • The dose grows meanwhile the quality increases • The application of a filter in the spectrum produce a lees dose increases Anti-scatter grid: • In theory it increases the image quality but with a large increases in the dose associated

23. Questions ???