Model of the spatial-frequency-dependent detective quantum efficiency of phosphor screens

We have developed a theoretical model to predict the modulation transfer function (MTF), the shape of the x-ray quantum noise power spectrum (NPS), and the spatial-frequency-dependent detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of an x-ray phosphor screen. The transfer of energy through the screen is modelled as a series of cascaded stochastic processes assuming that the screen consists of many thin phosphor layers. In this way, the model is able to account for the possibility of secondary-quantum noise and the difference in shape between MTF2 and the x-ray quantum NPS. Modelling a Kodak Min-R screen we were able to predict both the number of light quanta emitted per absorbed x-ray and MTF(f) to better than +/- 5%, and the scintillation efficiency to within 10% of experimentally measured values. The shape of the x-ray quantum NPS is predicted to within +/- 5% for spatial frequencies less than about 6 mm-1 and to within +/- 20% for higher frequencies.     

Effect of finite phosphor thickness on detective quantum efficiency

In this paper we describe theoretically the relationship between the finite thickness of a phosphor screen and its spatial-frequency-dependent detective quantum efficiency DQE(f-). The finite thickness of the screen causes a variation in both the total number of light quanta emitted from the screen in a burst from a given x-ray interaction and in the spatial distribution of the quanta within the light burst [i.e., shape or point spread function (PSF) of the light burst]. The variation in magnitude of the burst gives rise to a spatial-frequency-independent reduction in DQE, characterized by the scintillation efficiency As. The variation in PSF causes a roll off in DQE with increasing spatial frequency which we have characterized by the function Rc(f). Both As and Rc(f) can be determined from the moments of the distribution of the spatial Fourier spectrum of light bursts emitted from the phosphor and thus they are related: As is a scaling factor for Rc(f). Our theory predicts that it is necessary for all light bursts which appear at the output to have the same magnitude to maximize As and the same shape to maximize Rc(f). These requirements can lead to the result that the fluorescent screen with the highest modulation transfer function will not necessarily have the highest DQE(f) even at high spatial frequencies.     

Optical factors affecting the detective quantum efficiency of radiographic screens

Parameters related to the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of several representative screens of different thicknesses, phosphor grain sizes, and optical properties were measured by the scintillation spectrum method, using monoenergetic x rays produced from x-ray fluorescence. The experimental results, including those for spectral shape and average light energies (EA) emitted, are compared with conventional theories of the operation of screens. It was hoped that this would vindicate the theory of the effect of optical properties and so permit the simple calculation of all parameters related to DQE from standard x-ray attenuation tables. Rather more substantial energy-dependent deviations of EA are found than was previously realized, which preliminary analysis suggests are due to both optical effects and photoelectron escape. We conclude that although DQE for a single energy can be calculated by simplified methods to within +/- 10%, the effective DQE when polyenergetic beams are used is much less accurately estimated and requires a fuller theoretical treatment.     

Effects of characteristic x rays on the noise power spectra and detective quantum efficiency of photoconductive x-ray detectors.

The effects of K fluorescence on the imaging performance of photoconductor-based x-ray imaging systems are investigated. A cascaded linear systems model was developed, where a parallel cascaded process was implemented to take into account the effect of K-fluorescence reabsorption on the modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and the spatial frequency dependent detective quantum efficiency [DQE(f)] of an imaging system. The investigation was focused on amorphous selenium (a-Se), which is the most highly developed photoconductor material for x-ray imaging. The results were compared to those obtained with Monte Carlo simulation using the same imaging condition and detector parameters, so that the validity of the cascaded linear system model could be confirmed. Our results revealed that K-fluorescence reabsorption in a-Se is responsible for a 18% drop in NPS at high spatial frequencies with an incident x-ray photon energy of E=20 keV (which is just above the K edge of 12.5 keV). When E increases to 60 keV, the effects of K-fluorescence reabsorption on NPS decrease to approximately 12% at high spatial frequencies. Because the high frequency drop is present in both MTF and NPS, the effect of K fluorescence on DQE(f) is minimal, especially for E that is much higher than the K edge. We also applied the cascaded linear system model to a newly developed compound photoconductor, lead iodide (PbI2), and found that at 60 keV there is a high frequency drop in NPS of 19%. The calculated NPS were compared to previously published measurements of PbI2 detectors.     

量子检测效率在平板探测器评估中的研究进展

平板探测器(flat panel detector,FPD)是X射线摄影系统中至关重要的部分,其性能直接影响所采集图像的质量。量子检测效率(detective quantum efficiency,DQE)涉及探测器的噪声、分辨率、剂量、调制传递函数、噪声功率谱等多项参数,被公认是X射线成像性能最准确的评估指标,DQE越高,说明影像系统在低X射线入射剂量的情况下,获得高质量影像的能力越强。我们简单介绍了平板探测器的种类,对其DQE的检测技术的研究现状、进展及应用作了综述,归纳了在DQE检测过程中的有关影响因素,并进行了总结展望。     

Determination of the two-dimensional detective quantum efficiency of a computed radiography system

Based on a recently described method for determining the two-dimensional presampling modulation transfer function (MTF), the aperture mask method, a method for determining the two-dimensional detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of a digital radiographic system was developed. The method was applied to a new computed radiography (CR) system and comparisons with one-dimensional determinations of the presampling MTF and the DQE were performed. The aperture mask method was shown to agree with the conventional tilted slit method for determining the presampling MTF along the axes. For the particular CR system studied, the mean of one-dimensional determinations of the DQE in orthogonal directions led to a representative measure of the average DQE behavior of the system up to the Nyquist frequency along the axes, but a deviation was observed above this frequency. In conclusion, the method developed for determining the two-dimensional DQE can be used to determine the imaging properties of a digital radiographic detector system over almost the entire frequency domain, the exception being the lowest frequencies (< or = 0.1 mm(-1)) at which the validity and the reliability of the method are low.     

Direct conversion detectors: the effect of incomplete charge collection on detective quantum efficiency

Direct conversion detectors offer the potential for very high resolution and high quantum efficiency for x-ray imaging, however, variations in signal can arise due to incomplete charge collection. A charge transport model was developed to describe the signal and noise resulting from incomplete charge collection. This signal to noise ratio (SNR) reduction was incorporated into the cascaded systems model for a simple x-ray detector. A new excess noise factor, A(c) (termed the collection noise factor) is introduced to describe the reduction in detective quantum efficiency (DQE). The DQE is proportional to the product of the quantum efficiency and the collection noise factor. If the trapping cross sections for electrons and holes are very different, and if the detector is biased improperly, the collection noise factor can drop to as low as 50%. In addition, the signal loss due to incomplete charge collection will reduce the DQE in the presence of added noise. Because of this, the DQE generally does not continue to improve with greater detector thickness. The collection noise factor and DQE are predicted for CdZnTe, PbI2, and Se. The optimization of detector thickness should be based not only on quantum efficiency but also on the charge collection statistics, which are influenced by bias field and polarity.     

Analysis of the detective quantum efficiency of a developmental detector for digital mammography

We are developing a modular detector for applications in full field digital mammography and for diagnostic breast imaging. The detector is based on a design that has been refined over the past decade for applications in x-ray crystallography [Kalata et al., Proc. SPIE 1345, 270-279 (1990); Phillips et al. ibid. 2009, 133-138 (1993), Phillips et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Rev. A 334, 621-630 (1993)]. The full field mammographic detector, currently undergoing clinical evaluation, is formed from a 19 cm x 28 cm phosphor screen, read out by a 2 x 3 array of butted charge-coupled device (CCD) modules. Each 2k x 2k CCD is optically coupled to the phosphor via a fiber optic taper with dimensions of 9.4 cm x 9.4cm at the phosphor. This paper describes the imaging performance of a two-module prototype, built using a similar design. In this paper we use cascaded linear systems analysis to develop a model for calculating the spatial frequency dependent noise power spectrum (NPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of the detector using the measured modulation transfer function (MTF). We compare results of the calculation with the measured NPS and DQE of the prototype. Calculated and measured DQEs are compared over a range of clinically relevant x-ray exposures and kVps. We find that for x-ray photon energies between 10 and 28 keV, the detector gain ranges between 2.5 and 3.7 CCD electrons per incident x-ray, or approximately 5-8 electrons per absorbed x ray. Using a Mo/Mo beam and acrylic phantom, over a detector entrance exposure range of approximately 10 to 80 mR, the volume under the measured 2-d NPS of the prototype detector is proportional to the x-ray exposure, indicating quantum limited performance. Substantial agreement between the calculated and measured values was obtained for the frequency and exposure dependent NPS and DQE over a range of tube voltage from 25 to 30 kVp.     

Screen optics effects on detective quantum efficiency in digital radiography: zero-frequency effects

Indirect flat panel imagers have been developed for digital radiography, fluoroscopy and mammography, and are now in clinical use. Screens made from columnar structured cesium iodide (CsI) scintillators doped with thallium have been used extensively in these detectors. The purpose of this article is to investigate the effect of screen optics, e.g., light escape efficiency versus depth, on gain fluctuation noise, expressed as the Swank factor. Our goal is to obtain results useful in optimizing screens for digital radiography systems. Experimental measurements from structured CsI samples were used to derive their screen optics properties, and the same methods can also be applied to powder screens. CsI screens, all of the same thickness but with different optical designs and manufacturing techniques, were obtained from Hamamatsu Photonics Corporation. The pulse height spectra (PHS) of the screens were measured at different x-ray energies. A theoretical model was developed for the light escape efficiency and a method for deriving light escape efficiency versus depth from experimental PHS measurements was implemented and applied to the CsI screens. The results showed that the light escape efficiency varies essentially linearly as a function of depth in the CsI samples, and that the magnitude of variation is relatively small, leading to a high Swank factor.     

Self-normalizing method to measure the detective quantum efficiency of a wide range of x-ray detectors.

The detective quantum efficiency (DQE) is widely accepted as the most relevant parameter to characterize the image quality of medical x-ray systems. In this article we describe a solid method to measure the DQE. The strength of the method lies in the fact that it is self-normalizing so measurements at very low spatial frequencies are not needed. Furthermore, it works on any system with a response function which is linear in the small-signal approximation. We decompose the DQE into several easily accessible quantities and discuss in detail how they can be measured. At the end we lead the interested reader through an example. Noise equivalent quanta and normalized contrast values are tabulated for standard radiation qualities.     

The effect of phosphor K x-rays on the MFT of rare-earth screens

The LSF's and MTF's of two high resolution rare-earth screen-film combinations were measured at two beam qualities. The two beam qualities were chosen to provide x-ray spectral distributions either above or below the K-edge of the screen phosphor. The LSF's were found to be photon energy dependent. This energy dependence is attributed to the generation and reabsorption of phosphor K x-rays resulting in a broadening of the LSF.     

The use of detective quantum efficiency (DQE) in evaluating the performance of gamma camera systems

The imaging properties of an imaging system can be described by its detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Using the modulation transfer function calculated from measured line spread functions and the normalized noise power spectrum calculated from uniformity images, DQE was calculated with the number of photons emitted from a plane source as a measure for the incoming SNR2. Measurements were made with 99mTc, using three different pulse height windows at 2 cm and 12 cm depths in water with high resolution and all purpose collimators and with two different crystal thicknesses. The results indicated that at greater depths a 15% window is the best choice. The choice of collimator depends on the details in the organ being investigated. There is a break point at 0.5 cycles cm-1 and 1.2 cycles cm-1 at 12 cm and 2 cm depths, respectively. A difference was found in DQE between the two crystal thicknesses, with a slightly better result for the thick crystal for measurements at 12 cm depth. At 2 cm depth, the thinner crystal was slightly better for frequencies over 0.5 cm-1. The determination of DQE could be a method to optimize the parameters for different nuclear medicine investigations. The DQE could also be used in comparing different gamma camera systems with different collimators to obtain a figure of merit.     

Analysis of the kinestatic charge detection system as a high detective quantum efficiency electronic portal imaging device

Megavoltage x-ray imaging suffers from reduced image quality due to low differential x-ray attenuation and large Compton scatter compared with kilovoltage imaging. Notwithstanding this, electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) are now widely used in portal verification in radiotherapy as they offer significant advantages over film, including immediate digital imaging and superior contrast range. However video-camera-based EPIDs (VEPIDs) are limited by problems of low light collection efficiency and significant light scatter, leading to reduced contrast and spatial resolution. Indirect and direct detection-based flat-panel EPIDs have been developed to overcome these limitations. While flat-panel image quality has been reported to exceed that achieved with portal film, these systems have detective quantum efficiency (DQE) limited by the thin detection medium and are sensitive to radiation damage to peripheral read-out electronics. An alternative technology for high-quality portal imaging is presented here: kinesatic charge detection (KCD). The KCD is a scanning tri-electrode ion-chamber containing high-pressure noble gas (xenon at 100 atm) used in conjunction with a strip-collimated photon beam. The chamber is scanned across the patient, and an external electric field is used to regulate the cation drift velocity. By matching the scanning velocity with that of the cation (i.e., ion) drift velocity, the cations remain static in the object frame of reference, allowing temporal integration of the signal. The KCD offers several advantages as a portal imaging system. It has a thick detector geometry with an active detection depth of 6.1 cm, compared to the sub-millimeter thickness of the phosphor layer in conventional phosphor screens, leading to an order of magnitude advantage in quantum efficiency (>0.3). The unique principle of and the use of the scanning strip-collimated x-ray beam provide further integration of charges in time, reduced scatter, and a significantly reduced imaging dose, enhancing the imaging signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and leading to high DQE. While thick detectors usually suffer from reduced spatial resolution, the KCD provides good spatial resolution due to high gas pressure that limits the spread of scattered electrons, and a strip-collimated beam that significantly reduces the inclusion of scatter in the imaging signal. A 10 cm wide small-field-of-view (SFOV) prototype of the KCD is presented with a complete analysis of its imaging performance. Measurements of modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and DQE were in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations. Imaging signal loss from recombination within the KCD chamber was measured at different gas pressures, ion drift velocities, and strip-collimation widths. Image quality for the prototype KCD was also observed with anthropomorphic phantom imaging in comparison with various commercial and research portal imaging systems, including VEPID, flat-panel imager, and conventional and high contrast film systems. KCD-based imaging provided very good contrast and good spatial resolution at very low imaging dose (0.1 cGy per image). For the prototype KCD, measurements yielded DQE(0)=0.19 and DQE(1 cy/mm)=0.004.     

Determination of the detective quantum efficiency of a prototype, megavoltage indirect detection, active matrix flat-panel imager.

After years of aggressive development, active matrix flat-panel imagers (AMFPIs) have recently become commercially available for radiotherapy imaging. In this paper we report on a comprehensive evaluation of the signal and noise performance of a large-area prototype AMFPI specifically developed for this application. The imager is based on an array of 512 x 512 pixels incorporating amorphous silicon photodiodes and thin-film transistors offering a 26 x 26 cm2 active area at a pixel pitch of 508 microm. This indirect detection array was coupled to various x-ray converters consisting of a commercial phosphor screen (Lanex Fast B, Lanex Regular, or Lanex Fine) and a 1 mm thick copper plate. Performance of the imager in terms of measured sensitivity, modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectra (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) is reported at beam energies of 6 and 15 MV and at doses of 1 and 2 monitor units (MU). In addition, calculations of system performance (NPS, DQE) based on cascaded-system formalism were reported and compared to empirical results. In these calculations, the Swank factor and spatial energy distributions of secondary electrons within the converter were modeled by means of EGS4 Monte Carlo simulations. Measured MTFs of the system show a weak dependence on screen type (i.e., thickness), which is partially due to the spreading of secondary radiation. Measured DQE was found to be independent of dose for the Fast B screen, implying that the imager is input-quantum-limited at 1 MU, even at an extended source-to-detector distance of 200 cm. The maximum DQE obtained is around 1%--a limit imposed by the low detection efficiency of the converter. For thinner phosphor screens, the DQE is lower due to their lower detection efficiencies. Finally, for the Fast B screen, good agreement between calculated and measured DQE was observed.     

Integrated model for estimating phosphor signal and noise transfer characteristics on medical images: application to CdPO<Subscript>3</Subscript>Cl:Mn phosphor screens

An integrated model describing the signal and noise transfer characteristics of the objective image quality and information content in phosphor-produced images is presented. In the context of this model, important imaging parameters, namely optical gain, modulation transfer function, noise transfer function, detective quantum efficiency and information capacity were experimentally evaluated using seven laboratory-prepared CdPO₃Cl:Mn test phosphor screens of varying coating thickness. This phosphor has been previously shown to exhibit high spectral compatibility properties with the films and optical sensors used in digital imaging systems. Experiments were performed using 50–120 kVp X-rays produced by a medical X-ray unit. Results showed that, for thick screens, optical gain attained peak values close to 200 optical photons per incident X-ray at 50 kVp. The noise transfer function was higher than the modulation transfer function. For the thin screen of 21 mgcm⁻², the modulation transfer function was 0.25 at 100 line pairs mm⁻¹, and the corresponding noise transfer function was 0.4. The detection quantum efficiency peak value was 0.22 at 50 kVp. These values are within acceptable performance limits, and, given the phosphor material's high spectral compatibility and medium temporal response, CdPO₃Cl:Mn could be considered for use in X-ray detectors of static radiography imaging.     

Studies of x-ray energy absorption and quantum noise properties of x-ray screens by use of Monte Carlo simulation

The imaging properties of the phosphor layer in fluorescent screens or image intensifiers are related to its x-ray absorption characteristics. In this study, we applied Monte Carlo methods for the simulation of x-ray photon diffusion in a phosphor layer. The K-reabsorption factor, absorbed x-ray energy, quantum absorption efficiency, statistical factor, and noise-equivalent absorption were determined as a function of the incident energy and angle of the x rays for eight commonly used phosphor layers. These basic physical quantities will be useful for the prediction of the information transfer properties of a phosphor layer.