SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DUAL ENERGY AND/OR CONTRAST ENHANCED BREAST IMAGING FOR SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND BIOPSY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of multi-mode x-ray examination of a contrast-enhanced patient'"'"'s breast comprising:
- introducing vascular contrast agent into a patient'"'"'s breast;
obtaining (i) a multiplicity of single-energy x-ray 2D tomosynthesis projection images of the patient'"'"'s breast, (ii) a low-energy x-ray 2D mammogram, and (ii) a high-energy x-ray 2D mammogram of the breast;
wherein said 2D tomosynthesis projection images and said 2D mammograms are taken in a single breast compression;
computer-processing the 2D tomosynthesis projection images into 3D slice images that represent respective slices of the breast;
computer-processing the 2D low-energy mammogram and the 2D high-energy mammogram to form a weighted combination 2D image highlighting vascularity in the breast; and
displaying the combination 2D image and one or more of the 3D slice images;
wherein the displayed combination 2D image facilitates identification of a position of a possible vascular abnormality in two dimensions, and the 3D images facilitate identification of a position of the abnormality in three dimensions as well as visualization of appearance of the abnormality in respective slice images.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for x-ray imaging a patient'"'"'s breast in combinations of dual-energy, single-energy, mammography and tomosynthesis modes that facilitate screening for and diagnosis of breast abnormalities, particularly breast abnormalities characterized by abnormal vascularity.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of multi-mode x-ray examination of a contrast-enhanced patient'"'"'s breast comprising:
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introducing vascular contrast agent into a patient'"'"'s breast; obtaining (i) a multiplicity of single-energy x-ray 2D tomosynthesis projection images of the patient'"'"'s breast, (ii) a low-energy x-ray 2D mammogram, and (ii) a high-energy x-ray 2D mammogram of the breast; wherein said 2D tomosynthesis projection images and said 2D mammograms are taken in a single breast compression; computer-processing the 2D tomosynthesis projection images into 3D slice images that represent respective slices of the breast; computer-processing the 2D low-energy mammogram and the 2D high-energy mammogram to form a weighted combination 2D image highlighting vascularity in the breast; and displaying the combination 2D image and one or more of the 3D slice images; wherein the displayed combination 2D image facilitates identification of a position of a possible vascular abnormality in two dimensions, and the 3D images facilitate identification of a position of the abnormality in three dimensions as well as visualization of appearance of the abnormality in respective slice images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of multi-mode x-ray examination of a contrast-enhanced patient'"'"'s breast comprising:
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introducing vascular contrast agent into a patient'"'"'s breast; obtaining (i) 3D slice images of the patient'"'"'s breast that represent respective slices of the breast and are reconstructed through computer-processing a multiplicity of single-energy x-ray 2D tomosynthesis projection images of the patient'"'"'s breast, (ii) a low-energy x-ray 2D mammogram, and (ii) a high-energy x-ray 2D mammogram of the breast; wherein said 2D tomosynthesis projection images and said 2D mammograms are taken in a single breast compression; computer-processing the 2D low-energy mammogram and the 2D high-energy mammogram to form a weighted combination 2D image highlighting vascularity in the breast; and displaying the combination 2D image and one or more of the 3D slice images; wherein the displayed combination 2D image facilitates identification of a positions of a possible vascular abnormality in two dimensions, and the 3D slice images facilitate identification of the position of the abnormality in three dimensions as well as visualization of appearance of the abnormalities in respective slice images. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of multi-mode x-ray examination of a patient'"'"'s breast comprising:
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obtaining 3D slice images representing respective slices of a patient'"'"'s breast formed by computer-processing, through a reconstruction algorithm, a multiplicity of x-ray 2D tomosynthesis projection images of the breast taken at respective angles of an imaging x-ray beam to the breast; obtaining a 2D combination image of a low-energy 2D x-ray mammogram and a high-energy 2D x-ray mammogram of the breast in the presence of a contrast agent therein; and concurrently displaying on a computer display the 2D combination image and one or more of the 3D slice images; wherein the displayed combination 2D image facilitates identification of a positions of a possible vascular abnormality in two dimensions, and the 3D slice images facilitate identification of the position of the abnormality in three dimensions as well as visualization of appearance of the abnormalities in respective slice images. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for imaging a patient'"'"'s breast comprising:
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a data acquisition and computer-processing system configured to image a patient'"'"'s breast with x-rays and generate (i) 3D slice images of the patient'"'"'s breast that represent respective slices of the breast and are reconstructed through computer-processing a multiplicity of single-energy x-ray 2D tomosynthesis projection images of the patient'"'"'s breast, (ii) a low-energy x-ray 2D mammogram, and (ii) a high-energy x-ray 2D mammogram of the breast; said data acquisition and computer-processing system being further configured to combine said 2D low-energy mammogram and 2D high-energy mammogram to form a combination 2D image highlighting vascularity in the breast; and a computer display system configured to selectively display the combination 2D image and one or more of the 3D slice images; wherein the displayed combination 2D image facilitates identification of a positions of a possible vascular abnormality in two dimensions, and the 3D slice images facilitate identification of the position of the abnormality in three dimensions as well as visualization of appearance of the abnormalities in respective slice images. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification