System and method for low dose tomosynthesis

• US 9,498,175 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Stein, Jay, Smith, Andrew P., Jing, Zhenxue, Niklason, Loren
• Primary Examiner(s): Midkiff, Anastasia
• Application Number:
  US14/057,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20140044230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 378 21- 26, 378/37, 378/51, 378/53, 378/62, 378/91, 378 96- 98, 378/98.8, 378108-112, 378/193, 378/197, 378/204, 378/210, 382/128, 382/131, 382/132, 382/276, 382/282, 382/325
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method of imaging a breast using a multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis system, the method comprising:

acquiring a two-dimensional image of a breast using a first x-ray dose in a first mode of operation of the multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis system, wherein the first x-ray dose is emitted from an emission source when the emission source is stationary; and

acquiring a set of tomosynthesis images of the breast in a second mode of operation of the multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis system, wherein the set of tomosynthesis images is acquired from a plurality of projection images, wherein each of the plurality of projection images is acquired at a projection image x-ray dose less than the first x-ray dose, wherein each projection image x-ray dose is emitted when the emission source is rotating relative to the breast.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional image is acquired at an angle similar to that of a conventional mammogram.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional image is used to identify calcifications in the breast and the set of tomosynthesis images is used to identify masses in the breast.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein identification of calcifications in the breast is accomplished via a CAD mark representative of the calcification on the two-dimensional image.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein identification of masses in the breast is accomplished via a CAD mark representative of the masses on the set of tomosynthesis images.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the projection image x-ray dose administered for acquisition of the set of tomosynthesis images, the controlling the projection image x-ray dose comprising adjusting at least one of an x-ray tube voltage, x-ray current, x-ray filter, exposure time, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the projection image x-ray dose administered for acquisition of the set of tomosynthesis images, the controlling the projection image x-ray dose comprising adjusting at least one of a tomosynthesis scan angle and a number of projection images obtained for the set.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising using an anti-scatter grid for the first mode of operation of the multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the projection image x-ray dose is updated automatically in response to selection or use of the second mode of operation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a total x-ray dosage of the plurality of projection images is input manually.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a total dosage of the plurality of projection images x-ray doses is less than the first x-ray dose.

12. A multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis system comprising:

an x-ray source configured to move along an arc; and

an x-ray detector;

wherein the x-ray source and the x-ray detector are configured to (a) acquire a two-dimensional image of a breast using a first x-ray dose in a first mode of operation, wherein the two-dimensional image is acquired when the x-ray source is stationary and (b) acquire a set of tomosynthesis images of the breast in a second mode of operation, wherein the set of tomosynthesis images is acquired with a plurality of projection images, wherein each of the plurality of projection images is acquired at a projection image x-ray dose less than the first x-ray dose, and wherein the plurality of projection images are acquired when the x-ray source is moving along the arc.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the two-dimensional image is acquired at an angle similar to that of a conventional mammogram.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a total dosage of the plurality of projection images x-ray doses is less than the first x-ray dose.

15. A method of imaging a breast using a multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis system, the method comprising:

acquiring a two-dimensional image of a breast using a first x-ray dose in a first mode of operation of the multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis system, wherein the first x-ray dose is emitted from a stationary position; and

acquiring a set of projection images of the breast in a second mode of operation of the multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis system, wherein each image of the set of projection images is acquired at a second x-ray dose less than the first x-ray dose, wherein the second x-ray dose is emitted during a rotational movement of an x-ray source that emits the x-ray.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the two-dimensional image is acquired at an angle similar to that of a conventional mammogram.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising controlling the second x-ray dose administered for acquisition of the set of tomosynthesis images, the controlling the second x-ray dose comprising adjusting at least one of an x-ray tube voltage, x-ray current, x-ray filter, exposure time, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising controlling the second x-ray dose administered for acquisition of the set of tomosynthesis images, the controlling the second x-ray dose comprising adjusting at least one of a tomosynthesis scan angle and a number of projection images obtained for the set.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the second x-ray dose is updated automatically in response to selection or use of the second mode of operation.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a total dosage of the set of projection images is less than the first x-ray dose.