Development of a test object for an objective assessment of image quality in conventional or digital mammography

Marc Pachoud; Francois O. Bochud; Domenico Lepori; Jean-Francois Valley; Francis R. Verdun

doi:10.1117/12.462681

12 April 2002 Development of a test object for an objective assessment of image quality in conventional or digital mammography

Marc Pachoud, Francois O. Bochud, Domenico Lepori, Jean-Francois Valley, Francis R. Verdun

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4686, Medical Imaging 2002: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.462681
Event: Medical Imaging 2002, 2002, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The assessment of image quality in mammography often relies on the subjective evaluation of films produced with test-objects containing structures such as masses, micro-calcifications and filaments. If the methodology is adequate to control the stability of a mammography unit, its use in a context of system optimization (from the x-ray spectrum to the detector response) is limited. Thus, a test-object which allows measurements of the detectability index d' from the non-prewhitening matched filter (NPWE) observer, was developed and tested. The test-object is 45 mm thick and allows the assessment of d' in areas of different glandular/fat compositions (i.e image quality evaluation taking into account the dynamic range parameter). To simulate the absorption of the skin, a 100% fat equivalent tissue, with a thickness of 5 mm, is placed on each side of the test-object. On a conventional unit, it is possible to assess the image parameters at three optical density levels (i.e. 0.5 - 0.8 ; 1.5 - 1.6 and 2.3 - 2.6) in one exposure. The imaging of this test object on digital units has also been tested satisfactorily.

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Marc Pachoud, Francois O. Bochud, Domenico Lepori, Jean-Francois Valley, and Francis R. Verdun "Development of a test object for an objective assessment of image quality in conventional or digital mammography", Proc. SPIE 4686, Medical Imaging 2002: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment, (12 April 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.462681

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