Share Email Print
cover

Proceedings Paper

Calculating Radiological Images
Author(s): E P Muntz; H Bernstein; H Jafroudi; R. J Jennings
Format Member Price Non-Member Price
PDF $17.00 $21.00

Paper Abstract

We have been considering the question of calculating, conveniently but with precision, significant basic image quality indicators for mammography. As a result of this work, a number of questions have been addressed regarding both the philosophy and the practicability of such calculations. One way to make a prediction is to define a phantom, determine a primary photon fluence, obtain the scatter fluence from empirical correlations, define a target of interest and make a straightforward calculation. The other extreme is to define a phantom and target and do a complete Monte-Carlo calculation. The first is too approximate for making close calls between various system configurations. The second, although it can be very useful, tends to gather in one place the weaknesses of both experiments and theory. On one hand the Monte-Carlo calculations are unwieldy like experiments; on the other, like any theory they can only represent the physics that is included. It is always necessary to verify the calculation by experiments. For example, scatter radiation in mammography has a simple energy dependency but its angular distribution is quite complicated due to interference phenomena and also quite important. The first approach mentioned above would certainly miss the complication, as experiments have in the past. The Monte-Carlo calculations also miss the complication because, for practical reasons, their angular resolution is generally too low and in addition the appropriate physics is not included. We will describe our approach to the modelling of mammography. It is a combination of prediction techniques, based on variables chosen to be convenient for describing the physics, and experiments to verify uncertainties in the modelling. We will also discuss the point of greatest vulnerability of either calculations or experiments - the phantom. Our thesis is that all possible phantoms and targets can and should be treated in generalized combinations, which can be used to raise the level of usefulness of either experiments or predictions.

Paper Details

Date Published: 15 June 1984
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 0454, Application of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XII, (15 June 1984); doi: 10.1117/12.939311
Show Author Affiliations
E P Muntz, University of Southern California (United States)
H Bernstein, University of Southern California (United States)
H Jafroudi, University of Southern California (United States)
R. J Jennings, National Center for Devices and Radiological Health (United States)


Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0454:
Application of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XII
Samuel J. Dwyer III; Roger H. Schneider, Editor(s)

© SPIE. Terms of Use
Back to Top
PREMIUM CONTENT
Sign in to read the full article
Create a free SPIE account to get access to
premium articles and original research
Forgot your username?
close_icon_gray