title: Cone-beam micro computed tomography dedicated to the breast.
abstract: We developed a scanner for micro computed tomography dedicated to the breast (BµCT) with a high resolution flat-panel detector and a microfocus X-ray tube. We evaluated the system spatial resolution via the 3D modulation transfer function (MTF). In addition to conventional absorption-based X-ray imaging, such a prototype showed capabilities for propagation-based phase-contrast and related edge enhancement effects in 3D imaging. The system limiting spatial resolution is 6.2mm-1(MTF at 10%) in the vertical direction and 3.8mm-1in the radial direction, values which compare favorably with the spatial resolution reached by mini focus breast CT scanners of other groups. The BµCT scanner was able to detect both microcalcification clusters and masses in an anthropomorphic breast phantom at a dose comparable to that of two-view mammography. The use of a breast holder is proposed in order to have 1-2min long scan times without breast motion artifacts.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant' Angelo, Via Cintia, snc, I-80126 Napoli, Italy ; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: sarno@na.infn.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarno
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant' Angelo, Via Cintia, snc, I-80126 Napoli, Italy ; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mettivier
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant' Angelo, Via Cintia, snc, I-80126 Napoli, Italy ; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Lillo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e Tecnologie dell'Informazione, Università di Napoli Federico II, I-80125 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cesarelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e Tecnologie dell'Informazione, Università di Napoli Federico II, I-80125 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bifulco
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant' Angelo, Via Cintia, snc, I-80126 Napoli, Italy ; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Breast cancer; Diagnosis; MTF; Micro computed tomography; Phase contrast