title: Monte-Carlo simulation of a slot-scanning digital mammography system for tomosynthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) reconstructs planar slices of the breast based on two-dimensional angular projections. Early studies and clinical trials show that DBT is an improvement over full field digital mammography (FFDM) because it provides the radiologist with better image quality and more information.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper presents a simulation system to model the performance of a slot-scanning FFDM and DBT system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tissue-equivalent three dimensional (3D) breast phantom was constructed, validated for slot-scanning digital mammography and used in simulating digital breast tomosynthesis. The simulation system was validated by comparing images acquired with a slot-scanning mammography machine with simulated phantom images, using the edge-test method and image quality metrics modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Different two-dimensional (2D) projections of the 3D phantom were simulated and the phantom was reconstructed using filtered backprojection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Image quality metrics showed equivalence between simulated and real images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The simulation tool is suitable for slot-scanning FFDM and DBT and may be used for the design and comparison of mammography systems.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Mayuresh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dendere
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicolls
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Tania S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging
keywords: DBT; FFDM.; Monte-Carlo; PENELOPE; simulation; slot-scanning