Abstract
Phase-contrast mammography using laboratory X-ray sources is a promising approach to overcome the relatively low sensitivity and specificity of clinical, absorption-based screening. Current research is mostly centered on identifying potential diagnostic benefits arising from phase-contrast and dark-field mammography and benchmarking the latter with conventional state-of-the-art imaging methods. So far, little effort has been made to adjust this novel imaging technique to clinical needs. In this article, we address the key points for a successful implementation to a clinical routine in the near future and present the very first dose-compatible and rapid scan-time phase-contrast mammograms of both a freshly dissected, cancer-bearing mastectomy specimen and a mammographic accreditation phantom.
Highlights
With the introduction of a three-grating Talbot-Lau interferometer using structured gratings, phase-contrast imaging is no longer restricted to highly brilliant X-ray sources, but instead is compatible with conventional laboratory sources, so that great potential for clinical applications is envisioned [1]
The analyzed sample collective is limited to a small number of ex-vivo mastectomy samples comprising medical indications which may not be representative for daily screening. To overcome these limitations and to further pave the way of phase-contrast mammography into daily, clinical routine, we present the very first dose-compatible breast and phantom measurements scanned within only 12 seconds, while providing image quality and acutance equivalent to clinical mammograms
We found that the dark-field channel yields a superior contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of 10.6 in the depiction of the central tumor mass in comparison to 5.7 in the case of the absorption channel, proving that scatter-sensitive imaging provides enhanced detection sensitivity, even within a dedicated, low-dose setting
Summary
With the introduction of a three-grating Talbot-Lau interferometer using structured gratings, phase-contrast imaging is no longer restricted to highly brilliant X-ray sources, but instead is compatible with conventional laboratory sources, so that great potential for clinical applications is envisioned [1]. In the case of mammography, recent studies verified diagnostic advantages for certain mammographic indications, when utilizing phase- and scattersensitive imaging [2, 3, 4 and 5]. A major shortcoming of all previous studies on laboratory phase-contrast mammography was that the underlying image acquisition parameters did not meet clinical standards with respect to radiation dose, scan-time and consistency between subsequent measurements. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0130776 June 25, 2015
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