System and Method for Low Dose Tomosynthesis

• US 20090213987A1
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Smith, Jay Stein, Loren Niklason, Zhenzue Jing
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Jing, Zhenzue, Stein, Jay, Smith, Andrew, Niklason, Loren
• Granted Patent: US 8,565,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/405 Source units specially adapted to modify characteristics of the beam during the data acquisition process A61B6/4021, A61B6/4035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]

Abstract

A breast imaging system leverages the combined strengths of two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging to provide a breast cancer screening with improved sensitivity, specificity and patient dosing. A tomosynthesis system supports the acquisition of three-dimensional images at a dosage lower than that used to acquire a two-dimensional image. The low-dose three-dimensional image may be used for mass detection, while the two-dimensional image may be used for calcification detection. Obtaining tomosynthesis data at low dose provides a number of advantages in addition to mass detection including the reduction in scan time and wear and tear on the x-ray tube. Such an arrangement provides a breast cancer screening system with high sensitivity and specificity and reduced patient dosing.

Claims

1. A tomosynthesis breast imaging system comprising:

an x-ray source; and

an x-ray detector, the x-ray source and x-ray detector configurable to acquire a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image, wherein the two-dimensional image is acquired at a first dose and the three-dimensional image is acquired at a second dose less than or equal to the first dose.

2. The tomosynthesis breast imaging system of claim 1 wherein the second dose is a multiple of 0.25 to 1.0 of the first dose.

3. The tomosynthesis breast imaging system of claim 1 wherein the second dose is a multiple of 0.25 to 0.75 of the first dose.

4. The tomosynthesis breast imaging system of claim 1 wherein the second dose is half of the first dose.

5. The tomosynthesis breast imaging system of claim 1 wherein the first and second dose are controlled by varying at least one of the voltage, current, filter and exposure time of the x-ray source.

6. The tomosynthesis breast imaging system of claim 1 wherein the first and second dose are controlled by varying at least one of a scan angle and a number of projection images of a tomosynthesis exposure.

7. The tomosynthesis breast imaging system of claim 1 wherein the first and second dose are selected according to a mode of operation of the tomosynthesis breast imaging system.

8. The tomosynthesis breast imaging system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises functionality for imaging the breast using at least one modality selected from molecular breast imaging and ultrasound.

9. An integrated mammography/tomosynthesis breast imaging system comprising:

an x-ray source; and

an x-ray detector, the x-ray source and x-ray detector configurable to acquire a mammogram and a plurality of tomosynthesis projection images, wherein the plurality of tomosynthesis projection images are acquired at a tomosynthesis dose that is less than a mammogram dose used to acquire the mammogram.

10. A method of imaging a breast including the step of acquiring a three-dimensional image of the breast using a lower dosage than used to acquire a two-dimensional image of the breast.

11. A method of imaging a breast includes the steps of:

acquiring a two-dimensional image of a breast using a first x-ray dose, acquiring a three-dimensional image of the breast using a second x-ray dose less than the first x-ray dose and using the two-dimensional image and three-dimensional image to identify calcifications and masses in the breast.

12. A method of imaging a breast in a breast imaging system capable of generating two-dimensional images and three-dimensional images, including the steps of:

in response to an input selecting acquisition of a three-dimensional image, acquiring the three dimensional image including the step of controlling an x-ray dosage administered during the acquisition of the three-dimensional image so that the x-ray dosage is less than a dosage used to acquire a two-dimensional image.

13. The method of step 12 wherein the step of controlling adjusts at least one of an x-ray voltage, x-ray current and x-ray filter.

14. The method of step 12 wherein the step of controlling adjusts at least one of an angle of a tomosynthesis scan and a number of projection images of the tomosynthesis scan.