State-Of-The-Art X-Ray Digital Tomosynthesis Imaging

Abstract

Digital tomosynthesis (DT) is a notable modality in medical imaging because it shows the spread of the target area with lower radiation dose relative to computed tomography. In this section, we describe the technique in two parts: (1) image quality (contrast) and (2) DT image reconstruction algorithms, including state-of-the-art total variation minimization reconstruction algorithms with single-energy X-ray conventional polychromatic imaging and novel dual-energy (DE) virtual monochromatic imaging. The novel DE virtual monochromatic image-processing algorithm provides adequate overall performance (especially, reduction of beam-hardening, reduction of noise). The DE virtual monochromatic image-processing algorithm appears to be a promising new option for imaging in DT because it provides three-dimensional visualizations of high-contrast images that are far superior to those of images processed by using conventional single-energy polychromatic image- processing algorithms.