Mammography is a challenging field of medical imaging. Early detection of breast cancer requires identifying small contrast details. The choice of the appropriate monochromatic energy enhances the visibility of such details. Thomson scattering source can provide tunable quasi-monochromatic X-ray beams. In this work, we investigate by Monte Carlo simulations the optimal monochromatic energy to image mammographic phantoms. In order to mimic a Thomson scattering source, we consider the effect on image quality of the presence of an energy spread and of the presence of higher-order harmonics.
Advantages of quasi-monochromatic X-ray sources in absorption mammography / Oliva, Piernicola; Golosio, Bruno; Stumbo, S; Carpinelli, Massimo. - In: NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH. SECTION A, ACCELERATORS, SPECTROMETERS, DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. - ISSN 0168-9002. - 608:1(2009), pp. S106-S108. [10.1016/j.nima.2009.05.043]
Advantages of quasi-monochromatic X-ray sources in absorption mammography
OLIVA, Piernicola;CARPINELLI, Massimo
2009-01-01
Abstract
Mammography is a challenging field of medical imaging. Early detection of breast cancer requires identifying small contrast details. The choice of the appropriate monochromatic energy enhances the visibility of such details. Thomson scattering source can provide tunable quasi-monochromatic X-ray beams. In this work, we investigate by Monte Carlo simulations the optimal monochromatic energy to image mammographic phantoms. In order to mimic a Thomson scattering source, we consider the effect on image quality of the presence of an energy spread and of the presence of higher-order harmonics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
