Affiliations: Center for Bioengineering and School of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA | Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at
Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Hong Liu, Center for Bioengineering and
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 110 West
Boyd Street, Devon Energy Hall 150, Norman, OK 73019, USA. Tel.: +1 405 325
4286; Fax: +1 405 325 7066; E-mail: liu@ou.edu
Abstract: The goal of this preliminary study was to perform an image quality
comparison of high energy phase sensitive imaging with low energy conventional
imaging at similar radiation doses. The comparison was performed with the
following phantoms: American College of Radiology (ACR), contrast-detail (CD),
acrylic edge and tissue-equivalent. Visual comparison of the phantom images
indicated comparable or improved image quality for all phantoms. Quantitative
comparisons were performed through ACR and CD observer studies, both of which
indicated higher image quality in the high energy phase sensitive images. The
results of this study demonstrate the ability of high energy phase sensitive
imaging to overcome existing challenges with the clinical implementation of
phase contrast imaging and improve the image quality for a similar radiation
dose as compared to conventional imaging near typical mammography energies. In
addition, the results illustrate the capability of phase sensitive imaging to
sustain the image quality improvement at high x-ray energies and for breast
simulating phantoms, both of which indicate the potential to benefit fields
such as mammography. Future studies will continue to investigate the potential
for dose reduction and image quality improvement provided by high energy phase
sensitive imaging.
