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. 2022 Jan-Dec:21:15330338221104567.
doi: 10.1177/15330338221104567.

A Realistic Breast Phantom Proposal for 3D Image Reconstruction in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Adem Polat  1 , Raziye Kubra Kumrular  2
Affiliations

A Realistic Breast Phantom Proposal for 3D Image Reconstruction in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Adem Polat et al. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2022 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: Iterative (eg, simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique [SART]) and analytical (eg, filtered back projection [FBP]) image reconstruction techniques have been suggested to provide adequate three-dimensional (3D) images of the breast for capturing microcalcifications in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). To decide on the reconstruction method in clinical DBT, it must first be tested in a simulation resembling the real clinical environment. The purpose of this study is to introduce a 3D realistic breast phantom for determining the reconstruction method in clinical applications. Methods: We designed a 3D realistic breast phantom with varying dimensions (643-5123) mimicking some structures of a real breast such as milk ducts, lobules, and ribs using TomoPhantom software. We generated microcalcifications, which mimic cancerous cells, with a separate MATLAB code and embedded them into the phantom for testing and benchmark studies in DBT. To validate the characterization of the phantom, we tested the distinguishability of microcalcifications by performing 3D image reconstruction methods (SART and FBP) using Laboratory of Computer Vision (LAVI) open-source reconstruction toolbox. Results: The creation times of the proposed realistic breast phantom were seconds of 2.5916, 8.4626, 57.6858, and 472.1734 for 643, 1283, 2563, and 5123, respectively. We presented reconstructed images and quantitative results of the phantom for SART (1-2-4-8 iterations) and FBP, with 11 to 23 projections. We determined qualitatively and quantitatively that SART (2-4 iter.) yields better results than FBP. For example, for 23 projections, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values of SART (2 iter.) and FBP were 2.871 and 0.497, respectively. Conclusions: We created a computationally efficient realistic breast phantom that is eligible for reconstruction and includes anatomical structures and microcalcifications, successfully. By proposing this breast phantom, we provided the opportunity to test which reconstruction methods can be used in clinical applications vary according to various parameters such as the No. of iterations and projections in DBT.

Keywords: DBT; FBP; SART; breast cancer; breast imaging; breast phantom; digital breast tomosynthesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The various perspectives of the visualization of the three-dimensional (3D) volume of basic objects (eg cuboid and ellipsoid) used in the realistic breast phantom design.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The visualization of the three-dimensional (3D) volume of breast for the dimensions of 643, 1283, 2563, and 5123; the enlarged views of microcalcifications.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The comparison of the original layer of interest (LOI) (128th slice) (a), the reconstructions of LOI via filtered back projection (FBP) (b), and simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) (1 iteration) (c) for 11 projections. (a) The description of region of interest (ROI), background of ROI, full width half maximum (FWHM) line, and 1D profile line.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The comparison of enlarged views of regions of interest (ROIs) of the reconstructed images via filtered back projection (FBP) and simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) (1-2-4-8 iterations) for 11, 15, 19, and 23 projections.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
The comparison of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values of the regions of interest (ROIs) of the reconstructed images via filtered back projection (FBP) and simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) (1-2-4-8 iterations) for 11, 15, 19, and 23 projections.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
The comparison of the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the reconstructed images via filtered back projection (FBP) and simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) (1-2-4-8 iterations) for 11, 15, 19, and 23 projections.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
The comparison of the 1D profiles of the reconstructed images via filtered back projection (FBP) and simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) (1-2-4-8 iterations) for 11, 15, 19, and 23 projections.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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