A method for high-energy, low-dose mammography using edge illumination x-ray phase-contrast imaging. (28th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diemoz, Paul C; Bravin, Alberto; Sztrókay-Gaul, Anikó; Ruat, Marie; Grandl, Susanne; Mayr, Doris; Auweter, Sigrid; Mittone, Alberto; Brun, Emmanuel; Ponchut, Cyril; Reiser, Maximilian F; Coan, Paola; Olivo, Alessandro
• Is Part Of: Physics in medicine & biology. Volume 61:Number 24(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 8750
• Page End: 8761
• Publication Date: 2016-11-28
• Subjects: mammography -- x-ray phase-contrast imaging -- phase retrieval -- dose reduction; Biophysics -- Periodicals; Medical physics -- Periodicals; 610.153
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/61/24/8750
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-9155

Abstract

Abstract: Since the breast is one of the most radiosensitive organs, mammography is arguably the area where lowering radiation dose is of the uttermost importance. Phase-based x-ray imaging methods can provide opportunities in this sense, since they do not require x-rays to be stopped in tissue for image contrast to be generated. Therefore, x-ray energy can be considerably increased compared to those usually exploited by conventional mammography. In this article we show how a novel, optimized approach can lead to considerable dose reductions. This was achieved by matching the edge-illumination phase method, which reaches very high angular sensitivity also at high x-ray energies, to an appropriate image processing algorithm and to a virtually noise-free detection technology capable of reaching almost 100% efficiency at the same energies. Importantly, while proof-of-concept was obtained at a synchrotron, the method has potential for a translation to conventional sources.