title: Image quality and dose efficiency of high energy phase sensitive x-ray imaging: phantom studies.
abstract: The goal of this preliminary study was to perform an image quality comparison of high energy phase sensitive imaging with low energy conventional imaging at similar radiation doses. The comparison was performed with the following phantoms: American College of Radiology (ACR), contrast-detail (CD), acrylic edge and tissue-equivalent. Visual comparison of the phantom images indicated comparable or improved image quality for all phantoms. Quantitative comparisons were performed through ACR and CD observer studies, both of which indicated higher image quality in the high energy phase sensitive images. The results of this study demonstrate the ability of high energy phase sensitive imaging to overcome existing challenges with the clinical implementation of phase contrast imaging and improve the image quality for a similar radiation dose as compared to conventional imaging near typical mammography energies. In addition, the results illustrate the capability of phase sensitive imaging to sustain the image quality improvement at high x-ray energies and for breast simulating phantoms, both of which indicate the potential to benefit fields such as mammography. Future studies will continue to investigate the potential for dose reduction and image quality improvement provided by high energy phase sensitive imaging.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bioengineering and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Molly Donovan
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Xizeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Center for Bioengineering and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008327:Mammography; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: ACR; Phase contrast x-ray imaging; average glandular dose; contrast-detail; phase retrieval; phase sensitive x-ray imaging