Full-field digital mammography with grid-less acquisition and software-based scatter correction: investigation of dose saving and image quality

Abstract

Anti-scatter grids used in full-field digital mammography not only attenuate scattered radiation but also attenuate primary radiation. Dose saving could be achieved if the effect of scattered radiation is compensated with a software-based scatter correction not attenuating the primary radiation. In this work, we have carried out phantom studies in order to investigate dose saving and image quality of grid-less acquisition in combination with software-based scatter correction. The results show that similar image quality (contrast-to-noise ratio and contrast-detail visibility) can be obtained with this alternative acquisition and post-processing scheme at reduced dose. The relative dose reduction is breast-thickness-dependent and is >20% for typical breast thicknesses. We have carried out a clinical study with 75 patients that showed non-inferior image quality at reduced dose with our novel approach compared to the standard method.