Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images of a novel anthropomorphic breast phantom (UPenn phantom) acquired on two breast tomosynthesis systems were analyzed in terms of their power spectra (PS). The β and κ power law coefficients were estimated from 2D planar, tomosynthesis projection images and reconstructed planes. These data were compared to the PS characteristics as retrieved from a group...

Contrast-enhanced dual energy mammography (CEDEM) has been shown effective in enhancing the visibility of breast cancer in diagnostic mammographic images. The simulation and phantom studies of CEDEM were implemented to enhance acquisition techniques of a dedicated cone-beam breast CT scanner fabricated in our laboratory. CEDEM images were computersimulated numerically, and the results were comp...

An evaluation of two anthropomorphic breast phantoms, which have been designed for quality assurance and dose verification of radiotherapy treatment of breast cancer patients, is presented. These phantoms are identical in terms of their dimensions and shape, and composed of several layers of either Plastic Water or tissue-equivalent material. Both water- and tissue-equivalent phantoms include l...

The purpose of this study is to characterize the x-ray properties of a dual-modality, anthropomorphic breast phantom whose MRI properties have been previously evaluated. The goal of this phantom is to provide a platform for optimization and standardization of two- and three-dimensional x-ray and MRI breast imaging modalities for the purpose of lesion detection and discrimination. The phantom is...

When doing high field (1.5T) magnetic resonance breast imaging, the use of a compression plate during imaging after a contrast-agent injection may critically change the enhancement characteristics of the tumor, making the tracking of its boundaries very difficult. A new method for clinical breast biopsy is presented, based on a deformable finite element model of the breast. The geometry of the ...

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality among middle aged women. Survival and recovery depend on early diagnosis. At present mammography is one of the most reliable methods for early breast cancer detection. However relevance of diagnosis is highly correlated to image quality of the mammographic system. Hence periodic controls in mammographic facilities are necessary in order to ...

Phantom breast syndrome is a type of condition in which patients have a sensation of residual breast tissue and can include both non-painful sensations as well as phantom breast pain. The incidence varies in different studies, ranging from approximately 30% to as high as 80% of patients after mastectomy. It seriously affects quality of life through the combined impact of physical disability and...

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of an antiscatter grid and its potential benefit on image quality for a full-field digital mammography (FFDM) detector geometry at energies typical for temporal subtraction contrast-enhanced (CE) breast imaging. The signal intensities from primary, scatter, and glare were quantified in images acquired with an a-Si/CsI(T1) FFDM detector us...

Most of breast cancers (85%) originate from the epithelium and develop first in the ductolobular structures. Therefore, the mammary epithelium should be investigated in priority by means of an anatomically guided examination. For this purpose (mass screening, surgery navigation), we develop a two-dimensional anatomic phantom which corresponds to an axial cut of the ductolobular structures and e...

Analysis of the breast surface deformation during mammographic compression will provide insight into breast tissue elastic properties. Our long term goal is to accurately estimate physical properties of breast tissue for the purpose of realistic deformation simulation. As a first step, we analyzed the acquisition accuracy of the reconstructed breast phantom surface using a noncontact laser scan...