title: The use of a contrast-detail test object in the optimization of optical density in mammography.
abstract: In mammography, it is important that the maximum amount of diagnostic information is obtained from each radiograph. One of the factors influencing image quality is the optical density of the film. In this study, a contrast-detail test object was used to establish the optimum optical density value on the basis of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for two mammographic film-screen combinations under particular processing conditions. The optimum optical density, taken as being the point at which the threshold contrast is a minimum varied little with detail size. The optimum optical density for the Fuji film-screen combination with Photosol chemistry was found to be higher than that for the Kodak film-screen combination and Kodak processing conditions studied. Although the actual values of optical density are specific to the fixed processing conditions encountered, the technique has more general applicability.
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kotre
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faulkner
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards*; D008961:Models, Structural; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens / Q000592:standards*