WE‐EF‐207‐06: Dedicated Cone‐Beam Breast CT with Laterally‐Shifted Detector: Monte Carlo Evaluation of X‐Ray Scatter Distribution and Scatter‐To‐Primary Ratio

Abstract

Purpose:To determine the spatial distribution of x‐ray scatter and scatter‐to‐primary ratio (SPR) in projections during cone‐beam breast CT (CBBCT) with laterally‐shifted detector that results in coronal (fan‐angle) truncation.Methods:We hypothesized that CBBCT with coronal truncation would lower SPR due to reduction in irradiated breast volume, and that the location of maximum x‐ray scatter fluence (scatter‐peak) in the detector plane can be determined from the ratio of irradiated‐to‐total breast volume, breast dimensions and system geometry. Monte Carlo simulations (GEANT4) reflecting a prototype CBBCT system were used to record the position‐dependent primary and scatter x‐ray photon fluence incident on the detector without coronal truncation (full fan‐angle, 2f=24‐degrees) and with coronal truncation (fan‐angle, f+ f=12+2.7‐degrees). Semi‐ellipsoidal breasts (10/14/18‐cm diameter, chest‐wall to nipple length: 0.75xdiameter, 2%/14%/100% fibroglandular content) aligned with the axis‐of‐rotation (AOR) were modeled. Mono‐energy photons were simulated and weighted for 2 spectra (49kVp, 1.4‐mm Al HVL; 60kVp, 3.76‐mm Al HVL). In addition to SPR, the scatter maps were analyzed to identify the location of the scatter‐peak.Results:For CBBCT without fan‐angle truncation, the scatter‐peaks were aligned with the projection of the AOR onto the detector for all breasts. With truncated fan‐beam, the scatter‐peaks were laterally‐shifted from the projection of the AOR along the fan‐angle direction by 14/38/70‐pixels for 10/14/18‐cm diameter breasts. The corresponding theoretical shifts were 14.8/39.7/68‐pixels (p=0.47, 2‐tailed paired‐ratio t‐test). Along the cone‐angle, the shift in scatter‐peaks between truncated and full‐fan angle CBBCT were 2/2/4 ‐pixels for 10/14/18‐cm diameter breasts. CBBCT with fan‐angle truncation reduced SPR by 14/22/28% for 10/14/18‐cm diameter breasts. 60kVp reduced SPR by 21–25% compared to 49kVp. Peak SPR for CBBCT with fan‐angle truncation (60kVp) were 0.09/0.25/0.73 for 10/14/18‐cm diameter breasts.Conclusion:CBBCT with laterally‐shifted detector geometry and with appropriate kVp/beam quality reduces SPR. If residual scatter needs correction, the location corresponding to scatter‐peak can be analytically computed.This work was supported in part by NIH R01 CA128906. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the official views of the NIH or NCI.