Abstract
Rationale and Objectives. The purpose of this study was to comparatively evaluate digital planar mammography and both linear and nonlinear tomosynthetic reconstruction methods. Materials and Methods. A "disk" (ie, target) identification study was conducted to compare planar and reconstruction methods. Projective data using a composite phantom with circular disks were acquired in both planar and tomographic modes by using a full-field, digital mammographic system. Two-dimensional projections were reconstructed with both linear (ie, backprojection) and nonlinear (ie, maximization and minimization) tuned-aperture computed tomographic (TACT) methods to produce three-dimensional data sets. Four board-certified radiologists and one 4th-year radiology resident participated as observers. All images were compared by these observers in terms of the number of disks identified. Results. Significant differences (P <. 05, Bonferroni adjusted) were observed between all reconstruction and planar methods. No significant difference, however, was observed between the planar methods, and only a marginally significant difference (P <. 054, Bonferroni adjusted) was observed between TACT-backprojection and TACT-minimization. Conclusion. A combination of linear and nonlinear reconstruction schemes may have potential implications in terms of enhancing image visualization to provide radiologists with valuable diagnostic information.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 219-224 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Academic radiology |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Breast cancer
- Digital imaging
- Mammography
- TACT
- Tomosynthesis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging