title: Performance evaluation of a retrofit digital detector-based mammography system.
abstract: A retrofit flat panel detector was integrated with a GE DMR+ analog mammography system and characterized using detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Technical system performance was evaluated using the European Guidelines protocol, followed by a limited evaluation of clinical image quality for 20 cases using image quality criteria in the European Guidelines. Optimal anode/filter selections were established using signal difference-to-noise ratio measurements. Only small differences in peak DQE were seen between the three anode/filter settings, with an average value of 0.53. For poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thicknesses above 60 mm, the Rh/Rh setting was the optimal anode/filter setting. The system required a mean glandular dose of 0.54 mGy at 30 kV Rh/Rh to reach the Acceptable gold thickness limit for 0.1 mm details. Imaging performance of the retrofit unit with the GE DMR+ is notably better than of powder based computed radiography systems and is comparable to current flat panel FFDM systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: nicholas.marshall@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Nicholas W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Ongeval
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bosmans
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011786:Quality Control; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: Detector characterization; Image quality; Mammography