title: Comparison of two portable solid state detectors with an improved collimation and alignment device for mammographic x-ray spectroscopy.
abstract: We describe a portable system for mammographic x-ray spectroscopy, based on a 2 X 2 X 1 mm3 cadmium telluride (CdTe) solid state detector, that is greatly improved over a similar system based on a 3 X 3 X 2 mm3 cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) solid state detector evaluated in an earlier work. The CdTe system utilized new pinhole collimators and an alignment device that facilitated measurement of mammographic x-ray spectra. Mammographic x-ray spectra acquired by each system were comparable. Half value layer measurements obtained using an ion chamber agreed closely with those derived from the x-ray spectra measured by either detector. The faster electronics and other features of the CdTe detector allowed its use with a larger pinhole collimator than could be used with the CZT detector. Additionally, the improved pinhole collimator and alignment features of the apparatus permitted much more rapid setup for acquisition of x-ray spectra than was possible on the system described in the earlier work. These improvements in detector technology, collimation and ease of alignment, as well as low cost, make this apparatus attractive as a tool for both laboratory research and advanced mammography quality control.
authors.affiliation: Struttura Dipartimentale di Matematica e Fisica dell'Università degli Studi di Sassari and Sezione I.N.F.N., Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bottigli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Golosio
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stumbo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fantacci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abbene
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fauci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raso
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008904:Miniaturization; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods