Clinical study in phase- contrast mammography: image-quality analysis.
The first clinical study of phase-contrast mammography (PCM) with synchrotron radiation was carried out at the Synchrotron Radiation for Medical Physics beamline of the Elettra synchrotron radiation facility in Trieste (Italy) in 2006-2009. The study involved 71 patients with unresolved breast abnormalities after conventional digital mammography and ultrasonography exams carried out at the Radiology Department of Trieste University Hospital. These cases were referred for mammography at the synchrotron radiation facility, with images acquired using a propagation-based phase-contrast imaging technique. To investigate the contribution of phase-contrast effects to the image quality, two experienced radiologists specialized in mammography assessed the visibility of breast abnormalities and of breast glandular structures. The images acquired at the hospital and at the synchrotron radiation facility were compared and graded according to a relative seven-grade visual scoring system. The statistical analysis highlighted that PCM with synchrotron radiation depicts normal structures and abnormal findings with higher image quality with respect to conventional digital mammography.
Department of Physics, University of Trieste and INFN-Trieste, , via Valerio 2, Trieste 34127, Italy.
Renata
R
Longo
Maura
M
Tonutti
Luigi
L
Rigon
Fulvia
F
Arfelli
Diego
D
Dreossi
Elisa
E
Quai
Fabrizio
F
Zanconati
Edoardo
E
Castelli
Giuliana
G
Tromba
Maria A
MA
Cova
D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011786:Quality Control; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
image quality; mammography; phase-contrast; synchrotron radiation