Direct Magnification Radiography of the Breast in Combination with Computed Radiography: First Clinical Results

Abstract

Present day mammography can only make limited use of the advantages offered by digital radiography because of its limited spatial resolution, especially when using storage phosphor systems. Due to the structure of the phosphor plate and light scattering within the phosphor during plate reading process, the attained resolution is currently limited to approximately 4 or 5 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm) compared to 15 to 20 lp/mm in conventional screen-film mammography. These present requirements make the development of a digital mammographic system difficult. The advantages of digital radiography, such as image display, post-processing, archiving and image transfer have promoted the development of digital imaging techniques in mammography. Image post-processing is of special importance because it allows the workup of areas of interest, such as microcalcifications, masses, or dense parenchymal structures without additional radiation exposure to the patient.