Monochromatic breast computed tomography with synchrotron radiation: phase-contrast and phase-retrieved image comparison and full-volume reconstruction

Luca Brombal; Bruno Golosio; Fulvia Arfelli; Deborah Bonazza; Adriano Contillo; Pasquale Delogu; Sandro Donato; Giovanni Mettivier; Piernicola Oliva; Luigi Rigon; Angelo Taibi; Giuliana Tromba; Fabrizio Zanconati; Renata Longo

doi:10.1117/1.JMI.6.3.031402

Monochromatic breast computed tomography with synchrotron radiation: phase-contrast and phase-retrieved image comparison and full-volume reconstruction

J Med Imaging (Bellingham). 2019 Jul;6(3):031402. doi: 10.1117/1.JMI.6.3.031402. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Authors

Luca Brombal^{1

2}, Bruno Golosio^{3

4}, Fulvia Arfelli^{1

2}, Deborah Bonazza⁵, Adriano Contillo^{6

7}, Pasquale Delogu^{8

9}, Sandro Donato^{1

2}, Giovanni Mettivier^{10

11}, Piernicola Oliva^{12

4}, Luigi Rigon^{1

2}, Angelo Taibi^{6

7}, Giuliana Tromba¹³, Fabrizio Zanconati⁵, Renata Longo^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ University of Trieste, Department of Physics, Trieste, Italy.
² INFN Division of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
³ University of Cagliari, Department of Physics, Cagliari, Italy.
⁴ INFN Division of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
⁵ University of Trieste, Department of Medical Science, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy.
⁶ University of Ferrara, Department of Physics and Earth Science, Ferrara, Italy.
⁷ INFN Division of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
⁸ University of Siena, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, Siena, Italy.
⁹ INFN Division of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
¹⁰ University of Napoli Federico II, Department of Physics, Napoli, Italy.
¹¹ INFN Division of Napoli, Napoli, Italy.
¹² University of Sassari, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sassari, Italy.
¹³ Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A, Trieste, Italy.

Abstract

A program devoted to performing the first in vivo synchrotron radiation (SR) breast computed tomography (BCT) is ongoing at the Elettra facility. Using the high spatial coherence of SR, phase-contrast (PhC) imaging techniques can be used. The latest high-resolution BCT acquisitions of breast specimens, obtained with the propagation-based PhC approach, are herein presented as part of the SYRMA-3D collaboration effort toward the clinical exam. Images are acquired with a $60 - μ m pixel$ dead-time-free single-photon-counting CdTe detector. The samples are imaged at 32 and 38 keV in a continuous rotating mode, delivering 5 to 20 mGy of mean glandular dose. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolution performances are evaluated for both PhC and phase-retrieved images, showing that by applying the phase-retrieval algorithm a five-time CNR increase can be obtained with a minor loss in spatial resolution across soft tissue interfaces. It is shown that, despite having a poorer CNR, PhC images can provide a sharper visualization of microcalcifications, thus being complementary to phase-retrieved images. Furthermore, the first full-volume scan of a mastectomy sample ( $9 \times 9 \times 3 {cm}^{3}$ ) is reported. This investigation into surgical specimens indicates that SR BCT in terms of CNR, spatial resolution, scan duration, and scan volume is feasible.

Keywords: breast computed tomography; monochromatic computed tomography; phase contrast; phase retrieval; photon counting detector; synchrotron radiation.