Aims and objectives
This study focuses on the investigation of the effect of different Signal-Difference-to-Noise-Ratio (SDNR) definitions,
suggested in the literature when analyzing phantom object images simulating breast lesions [1-4].
Specifically,
two (2) SDNR definitions for masses (M) and two (2) for microcalcification (MC) clusters are tested for estimating lesion visibility in case of Breast Tomosynthesis (BT) and Digital Mammography (DM) modes.
Methods and materials
The BT and DM images were acquired using the homogeneous background part of the TOR MAM mammographic phantom (Leeds Test Objects Ltd,
North Yorkshire,
United Kingdom).
Phantom details of 3 mm diameter simulate pathological breast features like masses of different nominal contrast values (4%,
3%,
2%,
1.5%,
1% and 0.5%),
organized in six (6) groups of three (3) different mass detail contrasts,
with each contrast appearing up to three (3) times.
MC clusters are simulated by groups of particles of varying number,
size (upper and...
Results
Mass SDNR:
As observed in Fig.
9,
both mass SDNR definitions demonstrate small differences,
especially in case of BT for all mass contrast values studied.
However,
testing of performances obtained by the two (2) mass SDNR definitions per mammographic mode (Table 2),
no statistically significant differences were verified (two-tailed Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test for paired data,
p>0.05).
MC cluster SDNR:
As observed in Fig.
10,
the two MC cluster definitions of SDNR demonstrate some differences,
both in DM and BT modes.
However,
testing of performances...
Conclusion
Results of the present study suggest:
No statistically significant differences were obtained by the two (2) mass SDNR definitions used,
for both DM and BT modes.
However,
in case of microcalcifications,
the two (2) MC cluster SDNR definitions resulted in statistically significant differences per mammographic mode,
indicating MC cluster SDNR sensitivity to target and background regions identification.
This raises awareness regarding selection of SDNR definition utilized in case of small size mammographic features,
like MC clusters.
Personal information
Presenting Author:
Stavroula Bara,
MSc
Department of Medical Physics,
School of Medicine,
University of Patras,
Patras,
Greece
University Campus
26504 Rio,
Achaia
e-mail:
[email protected]
Corresponding Author:
Lena Costaridou,
Professor
Department of Medical Physics,
School of Medicine,University of Patras,Patras,
Greece
University Campus
26504 Rio,
Achaia
e-mail:
[email protected]
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