Abstract
Objective: This study aims to investigate the use of 3D printing techniques for the fabrication of physical breast phantoms, suitable for conventional and phase contrast breast imaging. Such phantoms could provide essential information for the design, development and optimization of emerging X-ray imaging modalities. Materials and Methods: Physical phantoms were constructed using two 3D printing techniques: Fused Deposition Modeling and Stereolithography. Eight materials suitable for 3D printing, including thermoplastic filaments and photopolymer resins, were investigated for the optimal representation of breast tissues, based on their attenuation and refractive characteristics. The phantoms consisted of a 3D-printed mold, which was then manually filled with paraffin wax. Additionally, a 3D complex-patterned layer and details representing abnormalities were embedded in different depths. Images of the phantoms were obtained in attenuation and phase contrast mode. Experiments were conducted using an X-ray microfocus tube with Tungsten anode set to 55kVp, combined with a photon-counting detector. The distance between source and detector was 56.5cm. The images were acquired at different object-to-detector distances starting from 5cm up to 40cm in a free space propagation set-up. Results and Conclusion: Results show that among all combinations with paraffin used as an adipose substitute, phantoms created with the Stereolithography technique and resins (especially Flex) as glandular equivalent, were found to be more appropriate for both attenuation and phase contrast imaging. The edge enhancement effect was well observed in the experimental images acquired at 35cm object-to-detector distance, indicating the potential for improved feature visualization using this set-up in phase contrast compared to attenuation mode.
Highlights
Physical breast phantoms can be a valuable asset for the development, optimization and evaluation of X-ray modalities for breast imaging
In a recent study, conducted at a Synchrotron facility, we have reported on the feature edge enhancement that was observed in Phase contrast (PhC) tomosynthesis images acquired using a highly heterogeneous physical phantom composed of an egg white part and lard [29]
The presented study showed that 3D printing techniques can be used for developing complex breast tissue-mimicking phantoms that are suitable for the investigation of multiple Xray imaging modalities with the same phantom
Summary
Physical breast phantoms can be a valuable asset for the development, optimization and evaluation of X-ray modalities for breast imaging. Apart from quality control and testing of already existing devices, the use of physical phantoms can provide essential information for the design and development of new imaging techniques. A key factor reigniting interest in the construction of breast phantoms stems from emerging three-dimensional X-ray imaging modalities, and the need for their evaluation and further optimization. Several physical phantoms for mammography have been reported in the literature [3 - 7]. A thorough review of breast phantoms for X-ray imaging, which includes both physical and computerized models (software phantoms), is reported by Glick et al [8]. Most of the developed physical breast phantoms address 2D imaging, such as the Rachel
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