Early experience in the use of quantitative image quality measurements for the quality assurance of full field digital mammography x-ray systems

Quantitative image quality results in the form of the modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) are presented for nine full field digital mammography (FFDM) systems. These parameters are routinely measured as part of the quality assurance (QA) programme for the seven FFDM units covered by our centre. Just one additional image is required compared to the standard FFDM protocol; this is the image of an edge, from which the MTF is calculated. A variance image is formed from one of the flood images used to measure the detector response and this provides useful information on the condition of the detector with respect to artefacts. Finally, the NNPS is calculated from the flood image acquired at a target detector air kerma (DAK) of 100 microGy. DQE is then estimated from these data; however, no correction is currently made for effects of detector cover transmission on DQE. The coefficient of variation (cov) of the 50% point of the MTF for five successive MTF results was 1%, while the cov for the 50% MTF point for an a-Se system over a period of 17 months was approximately 3%. For four a-Se based systems, the cov for the NNPS at 1 mm(-1) for a target DAK of 100 microGy was approximately 4%; the same result was found for four CsI based FFDM units. With regard to the stability of NNPS over time, the cov for four NNPS results acquired over a period of 12 months was also approximately 4%. The effect of acquisition geometry on NNPS was also assessed for a CsI based system. NNPS data acquired with the antiscatter grid in place showed increased noise at low spatial frequency; this effect was more severe as DAK increased. DQE results for the three detector types (a-Se, CsI and CR) are presented as a function of DAK. Some reduction in DQE was found for both the a-Se and CsI based systems at a target DAK of 12.5 microGy when compared to DQE data acquired at 100 microGy. For the CsI based systems, DQE at 1 mm(-1) fell from 0.49 at 100 microGy to 0.38 at 12.5 microGy. For the a-Se units, there was a slightly greater reduction in average DQE at 1 mm(-1), from 0.53 at 100 microGy to 0.31 at 12.5 microGy. Somewhat different behaviour was seen for the CR unit; DQE (at 1 mm(-1)) increased from 0.40 at 100 microGy to 0.49 at 12.5 microGy; however, DQE fell to 0.30 at 420 microGy. DQE stability over time was assessed using the cov of DQE at 1 mm(-1) and a target DAK of 100 microGy; the cov for data acquired over a period of 17 months for an a-Se system was approximately 7%. For comparison with conventional testing methods, the cov was calculated for contrast-detail (cd) data acquired over the same period of time for this unit. The cov for the threshold contrast results (averaged for disc diameters between 0.1 mm and 2 mm) was 6%, indicating similar stability.     

A comparison between objective and subjective image quality measurements for a full field digital mammography system

This paper presents pre-sampling modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) results for an amorphous selenium (a-Se) full field digital mammography system. MTF was calculated from the image of an angled 0.5 mm thick Cu edge, acquired without additional beam filtration. NNPS data were acquired at detector air-kerma levels ranging from 9.1 microGy to 331 microGy, using a standard mammography x-ray spectrum of 28 kV, Mo/Mo target/filter combination and 4 cm of PMMA additional filtration. Prior to NNPS estimation, the image statistics were assessed using a variance image. This method was able to easily identify a detector artefact and should prove useful in routine quality assurance (QA) measurements. Detector DQE, calculated from the NNPS and MTF data, dropped to 0.3 for low detector air-kerma settings but reached an approximately constant value of 0.6 above 50 microGy at the detector. Subjective image quality data were also obtained at these detector air-kerma settings using the CDMAM contrast-detail (c-d) test object. The c-d data reflected the trend seen in DQE, with threshold contrast increasing at low detector air-kerma values. The c-d data were then compared against predictions made using two established models, the Rose model and a standard signal detection theory model. Using DQE(0), the Rose model gave results within approximately 15% on average for all the detector air-kerma values studied and for detail diameters down to 0.2 mm. Similar agreement was also found between the measured c-d data and the signal detection theory results, which were calculated using an ideal human visual response function and a system magnification of unity. The use of full spatial frequency DQE improved the agreement between the calculated and observer results for detail sizes below 0.13 mm.     

Physical characterization of a prototype selenium-based full field digital mammography detector

The purpose of this study was to measure experimentally the physical performance of a prototype mammographic imager based on a direct detection, flat-panel array design employing an amorphous selenium converter with 70 microm pixels. The system was characterized for two different anode types, a molybdenum target with molybdenum filtration (Mo/Mo) and a tungsten target with rhodium filtration (W/Rh), at two different energies, 28 and 35 kVp, with approximately 2 mm added aluminum filtration. To measure the resolution, the presampled modulation transfer function (MTF) was measured using an edge method. The normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) was measured by two-dimensional Fourier analysis of uniformly exposed mammograms. The detective quantum efficiencies (DQEs) were computed from the MTFs, the NNPSs, and theoretical ideal signal to noise ratios. The MTF was found to be close to its ideal limit and reached 0.2 at 11.8 mm(-1) and 0.1 at 14.1 mm(-1) for images acquired at an RQA-M2 technique (Mo/Mo anode, 28 kVp, 2 mm Al). Using a tungsten technique (MW2; W/Rh anode, 28 kVp, 2 mm Al), the MTF went to 0.2 at 11.2 mm(-1) and to 0.1 at 13.3 mm(-1). The DQE reached a maximum value of 54% at 1.35 mm(-1) for the RQA-M2 technique at 1.6 microC/kg and achieved a peak value of 64% at 1.75 mm(-1) for the tungsten technique (MW2) at 1.9 microC/kg. Nevertheless, the DQE showed strong exposure and frequency dependencies. The results indicated that the detector offered high MTFs and DQEs, but structured noise effects may require improved calibration before clinical implementation.     

A comparison of the performance of digital mammography systems

An objective analysis of image quality parameters was performed for six digital mammography systems. The presampled modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) for the systems were determined at different doses, for 28 kVp with a Mo/Mo or W/Al target/filter combination and 2 mm of additional aluminium filtration. The flat-panel units have higher MTF and DQE in the mid to high frequency range than standard CR systems. The highest DQE, over the whole dose range, is for the slit-scanning direct photon counting system. Dual-side read CR can overcome the inherent x-ray absorption and signal collection limitations of standard CR mammography, improving the low-frequency DQE by 40%, to the same level as full-field systems, but it does not improve the poor spatial resolution of phosphor.     

Quality control measurements for digital x-ray detectors

This paper describes a digital radiography (DR) quality control protocol for DR detectors from the forthcoming report from the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM). The protocol was applied to a group of six identical caesium iodide (CsI) digital x-ray detectors to assess reproducibility of methods, while four further detectors were assessed to examine the wider applicability. Twelve images with minimal spatial frequency processing are required, from which the detector response, lag, modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) and threshold contrast-detail (c-d) detectability are calculated. The x-ray spectrum used was 70 kV and 1 mm added copper filtration, with a target detector air kerma of 2.5 μGy for the NNPS and c-d results. In order to compare detector performance with previous imaging technology, c-d data from four screen/film systems were also acquired, at a target optical density of 1.5 and an average detector air kerma of 2.56 μGy. The DR detector images were typically acquired in 20 min, with a further 45 min required for image transfer and analysis. The average spatial frequency for the 50% point of the MTF for six identical detectors was 1.29 mm(-1) ± 0.05 (3.9% coefficient of variation (cov)). The air kerma set for the six systems was 2.57 μGy ± 0.13 (5.0% cov) and the NNPS at this air kerma was 1.42 × 10(-5) mm(2) (6.5% cov). The detective quantum efficiency (DQE) measured for the six identical detectors was 0.60 at 0.5 mm(-1), with a maximum cov of 10% at 2.9 mm(-1), while the average DQE was 0.56 at 0.5 mm(-1) for three CsI detectors from three different manufacturers. Comparable c-d performance was found for these detectors (5.9% cov) with an average threshold contrast of 0.46% for 11 mm circular discs. The average threshold contrast for the S/F systems was 0.70% at 11 mm, indicating superior imaging performance for the digital systems. The protocol was found to be quick, reproducible and gave an in-depth assessment of performance for a range of digital x-ray detectors.     

On site evaluation of three flat panel detectors for digital radiography

During a tender we evaluated the image performance of three commercially available active matrix flat panel imagers (AMFPI) for general radiography, one based on direct detection method (Se photoconductor) the other two on indirect detection method (CsI phosphor). Basic image quality parameters (MTF, NNPS, DQE) were evaluated with particular attention to dose and energy dependence. As it is known, presampling modulation transfer function (MTF) of selenium based detector is very high (at 70 kV, 2 cycles/mm, 2.5 microGy, about 0.80). Indirect detection panels exhibit a comparable (lower) resolution (at 70 kV, 2 cycles/mm, 2.5 microGy, MTF is about 0.34 for both the systems analyzed) and a more pronounced energy and dose dependence could also be noted in one of them. As a consequence of the very high resolution, the normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) of the direct system is substantially flat, very similar to a white noise. Considering that the sensitive layer of all detectors is the same (0.5 mm), the relatively higher NNPS values are related to selenium absorption properties (lower Z respect to CsI:Tl) and detector inherent noise. NNPSs of the other systems, at low frequencies, are comparable but the frequency dependence is significantly different. At 70 kV, 2.5 microGy, 0.5 cycles/mm detective quantum efficiency (DQE) is about 0.35 for the direct detection system, and about the same (0.6) for the indirect ones. The combined effect of additive and multiplicative noise components makes DQE dependence on dose not monotonic. DQE present a maximum for an intermediate exposure. This complex behavior may be useful to characterize the systems in terms of the monodimensional integral over the frequency of DQE (IDQE). Both visual contrast-detail experiment and the direct evaluation of the signal-to-noise ratio confirmed, at least in a qualitative way, the system performances predicted by IDQE.     

Retrospective analysis of a detector fault for a full field digital mammography system

This paper describes objective and subjective image quality measurements acquired as part of a routine quality assurance (QA) programme for an amorphous selenium (a-Se) full field digital mammography (FFDM) system between August-04 and February-05. During this period, the FFDM detector developed a fault and was replaced. A retrospective analysis of objective image quality parameters (modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE)) is presented to try and gain a deeper understanding of the detector problem that occurred. These measurements are discussed in conjunction with routine contrast-detail (c-d) results acquired with the CDMAM (Artinis, The Netherlands) test object. There was significant reduction in MTF over this period of time indicating an increase in blurring occurring within the a-Se converter layer. This blurring was not isotropic, being greater in the data line direction (left to right across the detector) than in the gate line direction (chest wall to nipple). The initial value of the 50% MTF point was 6 mm(-1); for the faulty detector the 50% MTF points occurred at 3.4 mm(-1) and 1.0 mm(-1) in the gate line and data line directions, respectively. Prior to NNPS estimation, variance images were formed of the detector flat field images. Spatial distribution of variance was not uniform, suggesting that the physical blurring process was not constant across the detector. This change in variance with image position implied that the stationarity of the noise statistics within the image was limited and that care would be needed when performing objective measurements. The NNPS measurements confirmed the results found for the MTF, with a strong reduction in NNPS as a function of spatial frequency. This reduction was far more severe in the data line direction. A somewhat tentative DQE estimate was made; in the gate line direction there was little change in DQE up to 2.5 mm(-1) but at the Nyquist frequency the DQE had fallen to approximately 35% of the original value. There was severe attenuation of DQE in the data line direction, the DQE falling to less than 0.01 above approximately 3.0 mm(-1). C-d results showed an increase in threshold contrast of approximately 25% for details less than 0.2 mm in diameter, while no reduction in c-d performance was found at the largest detail diameters (1.0 mm and above). Despite the detector fault, the c-d curve was found to pass the European protocol acceptable c-d curve.     

High-resolution imager for digital mammography: physical characterization of a prototype sensor

The physical performance characteristics of a high-resolution sensor module for digital mammography were investigated. The signal response of the imager was measured at various detector entrance air kerma and was found to be linear. The spatial resolution was determined by measuring the presampling modulation transfer function, MTF(f), of the system. The noise power spectra, NPS(f), of the system were estimated using 26 kVp: Mo/Mo, 28 kVp: Mo/Rh and 30 kVp: Rh/Rh, with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) 'tissue equivalent material' of thickness 20, 45 and 57 mm for each of three x-ray spectra at detector entrance air kerma in the range between approximately 80.2 and 92.3 microGy. The noise equivalent quanta, NEQ(f), and detective quantum efficiencies, DQE(f), for the various spectral conditions were computed. In addition, dose dependence of NPS(f) and DQE(f) was studied at various detector entrance air kerma ranging from 9.4 to 169.7 microGy. A spatial resolution of about 10 cycles mm(-1) was obtained at the 10% MTF(f) level. A small increase in NEQ(f)was observed under higher energy spectral conditions while the DQE(f) decreased marginally. For a given spectrum, increasing PMMA filtration produced negligible change in DQE(f). The estimated DQE values at zero frequency were in the range between 0.45 and 0.55 under the conditions investigated in this study.     

Image quality assessment in digital mammography: part I. Technical characterization of the systems

In many European countries, image quality for digital x-ray systems used in screening mammography is currently specified using a threshold-detail detectability method. This is a two-part study that proposes an alternative method based on calculated detectability for a model observer: the first part of the work presents a characterization of the systems. Eleven digital mammography systems were included in the study; four computed radiography (CR) systems, and a group of seven digital radiography (DR) detectors, composed of three amorphous selenium-based detectors, three caesium iodide scintillator systems and a silicon wafer-based photon counting system. The technical parameters assessed included the system response curve, detector uniformity error, pre-sampling modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Approximate quantum noise limited exposure range was examined using a separation of noise sources based upon standard deviation. Noise separation showed that electronic noise was the dominant noise at low detector air kerma for three systems; the remaining systems showed quantum noise limited behaviour between 12.5 and 380 μGy. Greater variation in detector MTF was found for the DR group compared to the CR systems; MTF at 5 mm(-1) varied from 0.08 to 0.23 for the CR detectors against a range of 0.16-0.64 for the DR units. The needle CR detector had a higher MTF, lower NNPS and higher DQE at 5 mm(-1) than the powder CR phosphors. DQE at 5 mm(-1) ranged from 0.02 to 0.20 for the CR systems, while DQE at 5 mm(-1) for the DR group ranged from 0.04 to 0.41, indicating higher DQE for the DR detectors and needle CR system than for the powder CR phosphor systems. The technical evaluation section of the study showed that the digital mammography systems were well set up and exhibiting typical performance for the detector technology employed in the respective systems.     

Physical characteristics of GE Senographe Essential and DS digital mammography detectors

The purpose of this study was to investigate physical characteristics of two full field digital mammography (FFDM) systems (GE Senographe Essential and DS). Both are indirect conversion (x ray to light) alpha-Si flat panels coupled with a CsI(Tl) scintillator. The examined systems have the same pixel size (100 microm) but a different field of view: a conventional size 23 x 19.2 cm2 and a large field 24 X 30.7 cm2, specifically designed to image large breasts. In the GE Senographe Essential model relevant improvements in flat panel design were implemented and new deposition tools for metal, alpha-Si, and CsI(Tl) were introduced by GE. These changes in detector design are expected to be beneficial for advanced applications such as breast tomosynthesis. The presampling modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) were measured for a wide range of exposure (25-240 microGy) with a RQA-M2 technique (28 kVp with a Mo/Mo target/filter combination and 2 mm of additional aluminum filtration). At 1, 2, and at 4 lp/mm MTF is equal to 0.9, 0.76, and 0.46 for the conventional field detector and to 0.85, 0.59, and 0.24 for the large field detector. The latter detector exhibits an improved NNPS due to a lower electronic noise and a better DQE that reaches 60%. In addition a contrast-detail analysis was performed with CDMAM 3.4 phantom and CDCOM software: GE Senographe DS showed statistically significant poorer detection ability in comparison with the GE Senographe Essential. These results could have been expected, at least qualitatively, considering the relative DQE of the two systems.     

Characterization of noise sources for two generations of computed radiography systems using powder and crystalline photostimulable phosphors

The performances of two generations of computed radiography (CR) were tested and compared in terms of resolution and noise characteristics. The main aim was to characterize and quantify the noise sources in the images. The systems tested were (1) Agfa CR 25.0, a flying spot reader with powder phosphor image plates (MD 40.0); and (2) the Agfa DX-S, a line-scanning CR reader with needle crystal phosphor image plates (HD 5.0). For both systems, the standard metrics of presampled modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectra (NNPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) were measured using standard radiation quality RQA5 as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission. The various noise sources contributing to the NNPS were separated by using knowledge of their relationship with air kerma, MTF, absorption efficiency and antialiasing filters. The DX-S MTF was superior compared with the CR 25.0. The maximum difference in MTF between the DX-S scan and CR 25.0 subscan directions was 0.13 at 1.3 mm(-1). For a nominal detector air kerma of 4 microGy, the peak DQE of the DX-S was 43 (+/-3)%, which was over double that of the CR 25.0 of 18 (+/-2)%. The additive electronic noise was negligible on the CR 25.0 but calculated to be constant 3.4 x 10(-7) (+/-0.4 x 10(-7)) mm2 at 3.9 microGy on the DX-S. The DX-S has improved image quality compared with a traditional flying spot reader. The separation of the noise sources indicates that the improvements in DQE of the DX-S are due not only to the higher quantum, efficiency and MTF, but also the lower structure, secondary quantum, and excess noise.     

A comparison of the performance of modern screen-film and digital mammography systems

This work compares the detector performance and image quality of the new Kodak Min-R EV mammography screen-film system with the Fuji CR Profect detector and with other current mammography screen-film systems from Agfa, Fuji and Kodak. Basic image quality parameters (MTF, NPS, NEQ and DQE) were evaluated for a 28 kV Mo/Mo (HVL = 0.646 mm Al) beam using different mAs exposure settings. Compared with other screen-film systems, the new Kodak Min-R EV detector has the highest contrast and a low intrinsic noise level, giving better NEQ and DQE results, especially at high optical density. Thus, the properties of the new mammography film approach those of a fine mammography detector, especially at low frequency range. Screen-film systems provide the best resolution. The presampling MTF of the digital detector has a value of 15% at the Nyquist frequency and, due to the spread size of the laser beam, the use of a smaller pixel size would not permit a significant improvement of the detector resolution. The dual collection reading technology increases significantly the low frequency DQE of the Fuji CR system that can at present compete with the most efficient mammography screen-film systems.     

Resolution at oblique incidence angles of a flat panel imager for breast tomosynthesis

Oblique incidence of x rays on an imaging detector causes blurring that reduces spatial resolution. For simple projection imaging this effect is small and often ignored. However, for breast tomosynthesis, the incidence angle can be larger (>20 degrees), leading to increased blur for some of the projections. The modulation transfer function (MTF) is measured for a typical phosphor-coupled flat-panel detector versus angular incidence of the x-ray beam for two x-ray spectra: 26 kV Mo/Mo and 40 kV Rh/Al. At an incidence angle of 40 degrees the MTF at 5 mm(-1) falls by 35% and 40% for each spectrum, respectively (and 65%/80% at 8 mm(-1)). Increasing the detector absorber thickness to achieve improved quantum efficiency will cause the blurring effect due to beam obliquity to become greater. The impact of this blur is likely to cause misregistration and increased relative noise in tomosynthesis reconstructed images.     

Signal-to-noise properties of mammographic film-screen systems

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) have been experimentally determined as a function of spatial frequency for several mammographic film-screen systems. These two parameters were determined from our measurements of noise power spectra and sensitometric properties of each system along with modulation transfer function (MTF) data for the screens which were obtained from others. From the noise power spectra, it was found that film noise contributes significantly to the total noise of mammographic film-screen systems, comprising 30%-50% of the total noise at 1 cycle/mm and as much as 75% at 5 cycles/mm. All systems had approximately the same SNR below 1.5 cycles/mm, but differed at higher frequencies due to differences in screen MTF and in the gradient of the film's sensitometric curve. The DQE curves varied between systems at all frequencies, however, due to differences in system speed, MTF, and gradient. Generally, the DQE of mammographic film-screen systems is between 10%-30% at frequencies below 1 cycle/mm and decreases to about 1% between 8 and 12 cycles/mm. Compared to film-screen systems used in general radiography, mammographic systems have similar DQE values at low frequencies, but are superior at higher frequencies.     

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.     

Evaluation of the imaging properties of an amorphous selenium-based flat panel detector for digital fluoroscopy

The imaging performance of an amorphous selenium (a-Se) flat-panel detector for digital fluoroscopy was experimentally evaluated using the spatial frequency dependent modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). These parameters were investigated at beam qualities and exposures within the range typical of gastrointestinal fluoroscopic imaging (approximately 0.1 - 10 microR, 75 kV). The investigation does not take into consideration the detector cover, which in clinical use will lower the DQE measured here by its percent attenuation. The MTF was found to be less than the expected aperture response and the NPS was not white which together indicate presampling blurring. The cause of this blurring was attributed to charge trapping at the interface between two different layers of the a-Se. The effect on the DQE was also consistent with presampling blur, which reduces the aliasing in the NPS and thereby reduces the spatial frequency dependence of the DQE. (The DQE was independent of spatial frequency from 0.12 to 0.73 mm(-1) due to antialiasing of the NPS.) Moreover, the first zero of the measured MTF and the aperture response appeared at the same spatial frequency (6.66 mm(-1) for a pixel of 150 microm). Hence, the geometric fill factor (77%) was increased to an effective fill factor of 99 +/- 1%. A large scale ( approximately 32 pixels) correlation in the noise due to the configuration of the readout electronics caused increased noise power in the gate line NPS at low spatial frequency (< 0.1 mm(-1)). The DQE (f = 0) was exposure independent over a large range of exposures but became exposure dependent at low exposures due to the electronic noise.     

Performance of a 41X41-cm2 amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detector for radiographic imaging applications

We report the performance of a 41 X 41-cm2 amorphous silicon-based flat panel detector designed for radiographic imaging applications. The detector consists of an array of photodiodes and thin film transistor switches on a 0.2-mm pitch with an overlying thallium-doped cesium iodide scintillator. The performance of the detector was evaluated through measurement of the frequency-dependent detective quantum efficiency [DQE(f)]. Measurements of the characteristic curve and modulation transfer function (MTF) are also reported. All measurements were made in a radiographic imaging mode with a readout time of 125 ms. We evaluated a total of 15 detectors. One detector was characterized at a range of exposures and at three different electronic gain settings. Measurements of DQE(f) and MTF were also performed as a function of position on one detector. The measured DQE at an exposure of about 1 mR was 0.66 at zero spatial frequency and fell smoothly with frequency to a value of 0.24 at the Nyquist frequency, 2.5 cycles/mm. The DQE is independent of exposure for exposures in the upper 80% of each gain range, but is reduced somewhat at lower exposures because of the influence of additive system noise. The reduction can be controlled by adjusting the electronic gain. For a gain that allows a maximum exposure of 5 mR, the DQE at 0.056 mR was 0.64 at zero frequency and 0.19 at 2.5 cycles/mm. The standard deviation in DQE among measurements on different detectors was less than 0.02 at any frequency. The presampling MTF was 0.26 at 2.5 cycles/mm. The standard deviation in MTF among measurements on different detectors was less than 0.01 at any frequency. Both MTF and DQE were substantially independent of position on the detector.     

Image quality evaluation of a desktop computed radiography system

The modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of the Lumisys ACR-2000 desktop computed radiography (CR) reader were measured and compared to equivalent measurements acquired from a Fuji AC-3 CR system. The one-dimensional (1D) MTF was measured from an image of a sharp edge and the 1D NPS was derived from a 2D NPS measured from a uniform field exposure. The energy dependent ideal input signal to noise ratio of the incident x-ray beams was estimated using published x-ray spectra and attenuation coefficients. Measurements were acquired using Agfa, Fuji, and Kodak storage phosphor plates and it was concluded that use of the Fuji plates resulted in the highest system DQE for the ACR-2000. The DQE was measured using exposures of 0.10, 1.0, and 10.0 mR from 70 and 120 kVp x-ray beams filtered with aluminum. The DQE of the Lumisys ACR-2000 was lower than that of the Fuji AC-3.     

Influence of cassette type on the DQE of CR systems

In our recent paper by Monnin et al. [Med. Phys. 33, 411-420 (2006)], an objective analysis of the relative performance of a computed radiography (CR) system using both standard single-side (ST-VI) and prototype dual-side read (ST-BD) plates was reported. The presampled modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) for the systems were determined at three different beam qualities representative of paediatric chest radiography, at an entrance detector air kerma of 5 microGy. Experiments demonstrated that, compared to the standard single-side read system, the MTF for the dual-side read system was slightly reduced, but a significant decrease in image noise resulted in a marked increase in DQE (+40%) in the low spatial frequency range. However, the DQE improvement for the ST-BD plate decreased with increasing spatial frequency, and, at spatial frequencies above 2.2 mm(-1), the DQE of the dual-side read system was lower than that of the single-side one.     

Performance evaluation of a computed radiography imaging device using a typical "front side" and novel "dual side" readout storage phosphors

The Fourier-space modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (nNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of a computed radiography (CR) x-ray imaging device were measured. Two different storage phosphor screens were used in conjunction with a single CR reader (Fuji, Clearview, CS). One of the storage phosphor plates (ST-BD) had a clear backing material which allowed "dual side read" of the latent image from both the "front" and "back" sides of the phosphor. The other phosphor plate had a light occluding backing material, limiting the readout to front side only (ST-VI). The standard RQA-5 beam quality was used. The MTF was measured using a 1 mm thick tungsten edge device. Compared to the ST-55BD phosphor, the ST-VI phosphor was found to have modestly higher MTF at all spatial frequencies. The nNPS(f) and DQE(f) were measured for nominal incident exposure levels ranging from 0.1 to 10 mR. The dual side read phosphor demonstrated superior DQE, especially at low spatial frequencies. At the frequency 0.5 cycles/mm, the DQE values for the 1 mR exposure were 0.36 and 0.21 for the ST-55BD and ST-VI phosphor plates, respectively. The differences between the spatial-frequency dependent DQE of the two plates can be attributed to the increased signal collection efficiency of the dual side read plates and differences in storage phosphor structure noise.