Effect of x-ray energy on the radiological image quality in propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography of the breast

Sarina Wan; Benedicta D Arhatari; Yakov Nesterets; Sheridan C Mayo; Darren Thompson; Jane Fox; Beena Kumar; Zdenka Prodanovic; Daniel Hausermann; Anton S Maksimenko; Christopher J Hall; Matthew R Dimmock; Konstantin M Pavlov; Darren Lockie; Mary Rickard; Ziba Gadomkar; Alaleh Alaleh; Elham Vafa; Andrew G Peele; Harry M Quiney; Sarah J Lewis; Timur E Gureyev; Patrick C Brennan; Seyedamir Tavakoli Taba

doi:10.1117/1.JMI.8.5.052108

Effect of x-ray energy on the radiological image quality in propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography of the breast

Sarina Wan, Benedicta D Arhatari, Yakov Nesterets, Sheridan C Mayo, Darren Thompson, Jane Fox, Beena Kumar, Zdenka Prodanovic, Daniel Hausermann, Anton S Maksimenko, Christopher J Hall, Matthew R Dimmock, Konstantin M Pavlov, Darren Lockie, Mary Rickard, Ziba Gadomkar, Alaleh Alaleh, Elham Vafa, Andrew G Peele, Harry M QuineySarah J Lewis, Timur E Gureyev, Patrick C Brennan, Seyedamir Tavakoli Taba

School of Science & Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in developing and developed countries and is responsible for 15% of women’s cancer deaths worldwide. Conventional absorption-based breast imaging techniques lack sufficient contrast for comprehensive diagnosis. Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-CT) is a developing technique that exploits a more contrast-sensitive property of x-rays: x-ray refraction. X-ray absorption, refraction, and contrast-to-noise in the corresponding images depend on the x-ray energy used, for the same/fixed radiation dose. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between x-ray energy and radiological image quality in PB-CT imaging.

Approach: Thirty-nine mastectomy samples were scanned at the imaging and medical beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. Samples were scanned at various x-ray energies of 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 60 keV using a Hamamatsu Flat Panel detector at the same object-to-detector distance of 6 m and mean glandular dose of 4 mGy. A total of 132 image sets were produced for analysis. Seven observers rated PB-CT images against absorption-based CT (AB-CT) images of the same samples on a five-point scale. A visual grading characteristics (VGC) study was used to determine the difference in image quality.

Results: PB-CT images produced at 28, 30, 32, and 34 keV x-ray energies demonstrated statistically significant higher image quality than reference AB-CT images. The optimum x-ray energy, 30 keV, displayed the largest area under the curve(AUC_VGC) of 0.754 (p = 0.009). This was followed by 32 keV (AUC_VGC = 0.731, p ≤ 0.001), 34 keV (AUC_VGC = 0.723, p ≤ 0.001), and 28 keV (AUC_VGC = 0.654, p = 0.015).

Conclusions: An optimum energy range (around 30 keV) in the PB-CT technique allows for higher image quality at a dose comparable to conventional mammographic techniques. This results in improved radiological image quality compared with conventional techniques, which may ultimately lead to higher diagnostic efficacy and a reduction in breast cancer mortalities.

Original language	English
Article number	052108
Journal	Journal of Medical Imaging
Volume	8
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.8.5.052108
Publication status	Published - 12 Jul 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

breast cancer diagnosis
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
propagation-based phase-contrast imaging
phase-contrast CT
x-ray energies
breast cancer

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Wan, S., Arhatari, B. D., Nesterets, Y., Mayo, S. C., Thompson, D., Fox, J., Kumar, B., Prodanovic, Z., Hausermann, D., Maksimenko, A. S., Hall, C. J., Dimmock, M. R., Pavlov, K. M., Lockie, D., Rickard, M., Gadomkar, Z., Alaleh, A., Vafa, E., Peele, A. G., ... Tavakoli Taba, S. (2021). Effect of x-ray energy on the radiological image quality in propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography of the breast. Journal of Medical Imaging, 8(5), Article 052108. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.8.5.052108

@article{e2993921763b45c6b7318cbbe1833c51,

title = "Effect of x-ray energy on the radiological image quality in propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography of the breast",

abstract = "Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in developing and developed countries and is responsible for 15\% of women{\textquoteright}s cancer deaths worldwide. Conventional absorption-based breast imaging techniques lack sufficient contrast for comprehensive diagnosis. Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-CT) is a developing technique that exploits a more contrast-sensitive property of x-rays: x-ray refraction. X-ray absorption, refraction, and contrast-to-noise in the corresponding images depend on the x-ray energy used, for the same/fixed radiation dose. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between x-ray energy and radiological image quality in PB-CT imaging. Approach: Thirty-nine mastectomy samples were scanned at the imaging and medical beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. Samples were scanned at various x-ray energies of 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 60 keV using a Hamamatsu Flat Panel detector at the same object-to-detector distance of 6 m and mean glandular dose of 4 mGy. A total of 132 image sets were produced for analysis. Seven observers rated PB-CT images against absorption-based CT (AB-CT) images of the same samples on a five-point scale. A visual grading characteristics (VGC) study was used to determine the difference in image quality. Results: PB-CT images produced at 28, 30, 32, and 34 keV x-ray energies demonstrated statistically significant higher image quality than reference AB-CT images. The optimum x-ray energy, 30 keV, displayed the largest area under the curve(AUCVGC) of 0.754 (p = 0.009). This was followed by 32 keV (AUCVGC = 0.731, p ≤ 0.001), 34 keV (AUCVGC = 0.723, p ≤ 0.001), and 28 keV (AUCVGC = 0.654, p = 0.015). Conclusions: An optimum energy range (around 30 keV) in the PB-CT technique allows for higher image quality at a dose comparable to conventional mammographic techniques. This results in improved radiological image quality compared with conventional techniques, which may ultimately lead to higher diagnostic efficacy and a reduction in breast cancer mortalities.",

keywords = "breast cancer diagnosis, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine \& Medical Imaging, propagation-based phase-contrast imaging, phase-contrast CT, x-ray energies, breast cancer",

author = "Sarina Wan and Arhatari, \{Benedicta D\} and Yakov Nesterets and Mayo, \{Sheridan C\} and Darren Thompson and Jane Fox and Beena Kumar and Zdenka Prodanovic and Daniel Hausermann and Maksimenko, \{Anton S\} and Hall, \{Christopher J\} and Dimmock, \{Matthew R\} and Pavlov, \{Konstantin M\} and Darren Lockie and Mary Rickard and Ziba Gadomkar and Alaleh Alaleh and Elham Vafa and Peele, \{Andrew G\} and Quiney, \{Harry M\} and Lewis, \{Sarah J\} and Gureyev, \{Timur E\} and Brennan, \{Patrick C\} and \{Tavakoli Taba\}, Seyedamir",

year = "2021",

month = jul,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1117/1.JMI.8.5.052108",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Journal of Medical Imaging",

issn = "2329-4302",

publisher = "SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering",

number = "5",

}

Wan, S, Arhatari, BD, Nesterets, Y, Mayo, SC, Thompson, D, Fox, J, Kumar, B, Prodanovic, Z, Hausermann, D, Maksimenko, AS, Hall, CJ, Dimmock, MR, Pavlov, KM, Lockie, D, Rickard, M, Gadomkar, Z, Alaleh, A, Vafa, E, Peele, AG, Quiney, HM, Lewis, SJ, Gureyev, TE, Brennan, PC & Tavakoli Taba, S 2021, 'Effect of x-ray energy on the radiological image quality in propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography of the breast', Journal of Medical Imaging, vol. 8, no. 5, 052108. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.8.5.052108

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of x-ray energy on the radiological image quality in propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography of the breast

AU - Wan, Sarina

AU - Arhatari, Benedicta D

AU - Nesterets, Yakov

AU - Mayo, Sheridan C

AU - Thompson, Darren

AU - Fox, Jane

AU - Kumar, Beena

AU - Prodanovic, Zdenka

AU - Hausermann, Daniel

AU - Maksimenko, Anton S

AU - Hall, Christopher J

AU - Dimmock, Matthew R

AU - Pavlov, Konstantin M

AU - Lockie, Darren

AU - Rickard, Mary

AU - Gadomkar, Ziba

AU - Alaleh, Alaleh

AU - Vafa, Elham

AU - Peele, Andrew G

AU - Quiney, Harry M

AU - Lewis, Sarah J

AU - Gureyev, Timur E

AU - Brennan, Patrick C

AU - Tavakoli Taba, Seyedamir

PY - 2021/7/12

Y1 - 2021/7/12

N2 - Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in developing and developed countries and is responsible for 15% of women’s cancer deaths worldwide. Conventional absorption-based breast imaging techniques lack sufficient contrast for comprehensive diagnosis. Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-CT) is a developing technique that exploits a more contrast-sensitive property of x-rays: x-ray refraction. X-ray absorption, refraction, and contrast-to-noise in the corresponding images depend on the x-ray energy used, for the same/fixed radiation dose. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between x-ray energy and radiological image quality in PB-CT imaging. Approach: Thirty-nine mastectomy samples were scanned at the imaging and medical beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. Samples were scanned at various x-ray energies of 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 60 keV using a Hamamatsu Flat Panel detector at the same object-to-detector distance of 6 m and mean glandular dose of 4 mGy. A total of 132 image sets were produced for analysis. Seven observers rated PB-CT images against absorption-based CT (AB-CT) images of the same samples on a five-point scale. A visual grading characteristics (VGC) study was used to determine the difference in image quality. Results: PB-CT images produced at 28, 30, 32, and 34 keV x-ray energies demonstrated statistically significant higher image quality than reference AB-CT images. The optimum x-ray energy, 30 keV, displayed the largest area under the curve(AUCVGC) of 0.754 (p = 0.009). This was followed by 32 keV (AUCVGC = 0.731, p ≤ 0.001), 34 keV (AUCVGC = 0.723, p ≤ 0.001), and 28 keV (AUCVGC = 0.654, p = 0.015). Conclusions: An optimum energy range (around 30 keV) in the PB-CT technique allows for higher image quality at a dose comparable to conventional mammographic techniques. This results in improved radiological image quality compared with conventional techniques, which may ultimately lead to higher diagnostic efficacy and a reduction in breast cancer mortalities.

AB - Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in developing and developed countries and is responsible for 15% of women’s cancer deaths worldwide. Conventional absorption-based breast imaging techniques lack sufficient contrast for comprehensive diagnosis. Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-CT) is a developing technique that exploits a more contrast-sensitive property of x-rays: x-ray refraction. X-ray absorption, refraction, and contrast-to-noise in the corresponding images depend on the x-ray energy used, for the same/fixed radiation dose. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between x-ray energy and radiological image quality in PB-CT imaging. Approach: Thirty-nine mastectomy samples were scanned at the imaging and medical beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. Samples were scanned at various x-ray energies of 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 60 keV using a Hamamatsu Flat Panel detector at the same object-to-detector distance of 6 m and mean glandular dose of 4 mGy. A total of 132 image sets were produced for analysis. Seven observers rated PB-CT images against absorption-based CT (AB-CT) images of the same samples on a five-point scale. A visual grading characteristics (VGC) study was used to determine the difference in image quality. Results: PB-CT images produced at 28, 30, 32, and 34 keV x-ray energies demonstrated statistically significant higher image quality than reference AB-CT images. The optimum x-ray energy, 30 keV, displayed the largest area under the curve(AUCVGC) of 0.754 (p = 0.009). This was followed by 32 keV (AUCVGC = 0.731, p ≤ 0.001), 34 keV (AUCVGC = 0.723, p ≤ 0.001), and 28 keV (AUCVGC = 0.654, p = 0.015). Conclusions: An optimum energy range (around 30 keV) in the PB-CT technique allows for higher image quality at a dose comparable to conventional mammographic techniques. This results in improved radiological image quality compared with conventional techniques, which may ultimately lead to higher diagnostic efficacy and a reduction in breast cancer mortalities.

KW - breast cancer diagnosis

KW - Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging

KW - propagation-based phase-contrast imaging

KW - phase-contrast CT

KW - x-ray energies

KW - breast cancer

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85118700216

U2 - 10.1117/1.JMI.8.5.052108

DO - 10.1117/1.JMI.8.5.052108

M3 - Article

SN - 2329-4302

VL - 8

JO - Journal of Medical Imaging

JF - Journal of Medical Imaging

IS - 5

M1 - 052108

ER -

Effect of x-ray energy on the radiological image quality in propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography of the breast

Abstract

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