Biomedical subjects

M J Yaffe

Publications and source records attributed to M J Yaffe.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Scanned-projection digital mammography.

The effectiveness of film-screen mammography is limited by tradeoffs between latitude and contrast, film granularity, and the need to increase dose when antiscatter methods are used. We are currently developing a scanned-projection digital mammography (SPDM) system to overcome these limitations. The system consists of a pair of scanning slits, a high-resolution x-ray image intensifier tube, a linear photodiode array, and a digital display. The detective quantum efficiency of the SPDM system at spatial frequencies up to 3 cycles/mm is similar to that of mammographic film-screen combinations, but is lower at high frequencies. For low-contrast objects as small as 0.1 mm in diameter, the signal-to-noise ratio is currently equal to that of optimally exposed mammographic film-screen images for equal dose to the breast and superior for regions which would be underexposed or overexposed on film. This is achieved by the use of a low-noise detector system, geometric magnification, and scatter elimination. Images of a contrast-detail phantom and excised breast tissue illustrate the superior contrast sensitivity of SPDM.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of finite phosphor thickness on detective quantum efficiency.

In this paper we describe theoretically the relationship between the finite thickness of a phosphor screen and its spatial-frequency-dependent detective quantum efficiency DQE(f-). The finite thickness of the screen causes a variation in both the total number of light quanta emitted from the screen in a burst from a given x-ray interaction and in the spatial distribution of the quanta within the light burst [i.e., shape or point spread function (PSF) of the light burst]. The variation in magnitude of the burst gives rise to a spatial-frequency-independent reduction in DQE, characterized by the scintillation efficiency As. The variation in PSF causes a roll off in DQE with increasing spatial frequency which we have characterized by the function Rc(f). Both As and Rc(f) can be determined from the moments of the distribution of the spatial Fourier spectrum of light bursts emitted from the phosphor and thus they are related: As is a scaling factor for Rc(f). Our theory predicts that it is necessary for all light bursts which appear at the output to have the same magnitude to maximize As and the same shape to maximize Rc(f). These requirements can lead to the result that the fluorescent screen with the highest modulation transfer function will not necessarily have the highest DQE(f) even at high spatial frequencies.

Fourier Analysis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of an anthropomorphic breast phantom.

A new technique for producing anthropomorphic radiologic phantoms is described. Information from a patient radiograph is used to design the phantom. Optical densities from a digitized radiograph are converted to thicknesses of a phantom material, with corrections for geometry, x-ray spectrum, and scatter. Numerically controlled machining techniques are used to transcribe the anatomic details into the phantom material. High spatial frequencies are reproduced separately from low spatial frequencies using photochemical techniques in order to replicate finer details in the phantom. The result is a phantom consisting of a number of overlays. Radiographs of a breast phantom produced using the technique are shown, energy equivalence to attenuation of breast tissue is assessed, and methods of incorporating fine detail and quantitative features in the phantom are suggested.

Breast↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of various noise sources on the detective quantum efficiency of phosphor screens.

We have examined the effect of screen-structure, optical-detector, and secondary-quantum noise sources on detective quantum efficiency, DQE(f). This was done by using experimental measurements of screen-structure and optical-detector noise in combination with a theoretical model which predicts x-ray quantum and secondary-quantum noise for different optical and physical properties of a phosphor screen. The reduction in DQE(f) from noise sources other than x-ray quantum noise depends on the noise power spectra (NPS) of these other sources relative to the x-ray quantum NPS. Even though x-ray quantum noise may be the dominant noise source at low spatial frequencies, it decreases relatively rapidly with increasing frequency so that other noise sources, which may be small at low frequencies, dominate. Our model predicts that DQE(f) can be increased, at spatial frequencies less than 4 mm-1, by changing the optical properties of the screen even though modulation transfer function MTF(f) may decrease. Furthermore, if screen and optical-detector noise decrease with increasing frequency and secondary-quantum noise sufficiently small, then DQE(f) will also be improved at frequencies greater than 4 mm-1.

Mathematics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Model of the spatial-frequency-dependent detective quantum efficiency of phosphor screens.

We have developed a theoretical model to predict the modulation transfer function (MTF), the shape of the x-ray quantum noise power spectrum (NPS), and the spatial-frequency-dependent detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of an x-ray phosphor screen. The transfer of energy through the screen is modelled as a series of cascaded stochastic processes assuming that the screen consists of many thin phosphor layers. In this way, the model is able to account for the possibility of secondary-quantum noise and the difference in shape between MTF2 and the x-ray quantum NPS. Modelling a Kodak Min-R screen we were able to predict both the number of light quanta emitted per absorbed x-ray and MTF(f) to better than +/- 5%, and the scintillation efficiency to within 10% of experimentally measured values. The shape of the x-ray quantum NPS is predicted to within +/- 5% for spatial frequencies less than about 6 mm-1 and to within +/- 20% for higher frequencies.

Mathematics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dynamic range requirements in digital mammography.

The dynamic range and the number of gray levels, gamma s, required for digital mammography has been evaluated using an energy transport model. The effects of molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) target spectra and the energy-dependent attenuation by elemental filters, breast tissue, and a phosphor screen were included in the model. For detectors with ideal optical coupling and no inherent detector noise, 3,100 gray levels are discernable (requiring 12 bits per pixel), assuming a 40 kVp, W target spectrum (1.0 mm A1 filtration), a mean glandular dose to a 5 cm thick breast of 0.6 mGy, and an ideal observer with a 5 mm diam viewing aperture. The effects of inherent detector noise and realistic coupling efficiency on gamma s were also examined. For the 40 kVp, W spectrum, a detector with total coupling efficiency of 16 electrons (e-) per x-ray interaction and a dynamic range of 3000 (maximum carrier signal of 1.93 x 10(5) e-/pixel and inherent detector noise of 64 e- pixel) would decrease the number of gray levels that could be resolved by only 2% compared to a detector with ideal coupling and no inherent noise. A detector with a total coupling efficiency of 2.0 electrons per x-ray interaction and a dynamic range of 240 (maximum carrier signal 2.41 x 10(4) e-/pixel and inherent detector noise of 100 e-/pixel) would reduce the number of gray levels by 26% for the 40 kVp spectrum. On the basis of dynamic range, W spectra are preferable for digital mammography, since Mo spectra yielding the same signal-to-noise ratio require a detector with dynamic range twice as large, and with a 30% greater saturation signal. When no scatter rejection method is used, scattered radiation over a 254 cm2 imaging field reduces the number of discernable gray levels by 23% for a 5 cm thick breast and 34% for an 8 cm thick breast.

Breast↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Digital mammography.

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Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of mammographic density and breast cancer risk from digitized mammograms.

To evaluate the association between mammographic density and breast cancer risk, a simple, observer-assisted technique called interactive thresholding was developed that allows reliable quantitative assessment of mammographic density with use of a computer workstation. Use of this technique helps confirm that mammographic density is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer and is present in a large proportion of breast cancer cases. The strong relationship between mammographic density and breast cancer risk suggests that the causes of breast cancer may be better understood by identifying the factors associated with mammographically dense tissue and determining how such tissue changes as these factors vary. Furthermore, because it can be modified, mammographic density may also be a good vehicle for the development and monitoring of potential preventive strategies. Areas of ongoing investigation include evaluating a potential genetic component of mammographic density by comparing density measurements in twins and understanding changes in density relative to age, menopausal status, exogenous hormone use, and exposure to environmental carcinogens. In addition, work is ongoing to establish measurements from imaging modalities other than mammography and to relate these measurements directly to breast cancer risk.

Breast↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Image processing algorithms for digital mammography: a pictorial essay.

Digital mammography systems allow manipulation of fine differences in image contrast by means of image processing algorithms. Different display algorithms have advantages and disadvantages for the specific tasks required in breast imaging-diagnosis and screening. Manual intensity windowing can produce digital mammograms very similar to standard screen-film mammograms but is limited by its operator dependence. Histogram-based intensity windowing improves the conspicuity of the lesion edge, but there is loss of detail outside the dense parts of the image. Mixture-model intensity windowing enhances the visibility of lesion borders against the fatty background, but the mixed parenchymal densities abutting the lesion may be lost. Contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization can also provide subtle edge information but might degrade performance in the screening setting by enhancing the visibility of nuisance information. Unsharp masking enhances the sharpness of the borders of mass lesions, but this algorithm may make even an indistinct mass appear more circumscribed. Peripheral equalization displays lesion details well and preserves the peripheral information in the surrounding breast, but there may be flattening of image contrast in the nonperipheral portions of the image. Trex processing allows visualization of both lesion detail and breast edge information but reduces image contrast.

Algorithms↗