Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39837652›Full record

ArticleMedical physics2025

Comparative image quality and dosimetric performance of two generations of dedicated breast CT systems.

Juan J Pautasso, Camille D E Van Speybroeck, Koen Michielsen, Ioannis Sechopoulos

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Medical physics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Juan J PautassoDepartment of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Camille D E Van SpeybroeckDepartment of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Koen MichielsenDepartment of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Ioannis SechopoulosDepartment of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Funding

European Research Council 864929
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDedicated breast computed tomography (bCT) systems offer detailed imaging for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. As new bCT generations are developed, it is important to evaluate their imaging performance and dose efficiency to understand differences over previous models. PURPOSE: To characterize the imaging performance and dose efficiency of a second-generation (GEN2) bCT system and compare them to those of a first-generation (GEN1) system.

methodsThe imaging performance was evaluated through key metrics: modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) in the projection domain. In the image domain, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the visibility of calcifications were analyzed using a quality control (QC) phantom with masses and calcification clusters. Air kerma and tube output were measured and mean glandular dose (MGD) estimated for different phantom sizes for dosimetric characterization of the acquisition protocols set by the automatic exposure control (AEC).

resultsGEN2 outperformed GEN1 at higher spatial frequencies, with 57% of the MTF observed at 1 cycles/mm compared to 43% for GEN1. For a 2 mm diameter mass, GEN2 showed 60% higher CNR and 63% higher SNR. However, for larger masses, GEN1 outperformed GEN2, with CNR and SNR values higher by 12% to 44% and 14% to 43%, respectively. GEN2 also achieves higher DQE across the frequency spectrum, with 45% at 1 cycle/mm, compared to GEN1's 20%. Regarding calcifications in the QC phantom, the 320 µm calcifications resulted in distinct full-width-at-half-maxima (FWHM ± SD), with 897 ± 58 µm for GEN1 and 811 ± 127 µm for GEN2, with a p-value of 0.19. For 290 µm calcifications, GEN1's FWHM was 866 ± 129 µm, while GEN2's was narrower at 665 ± 57 µm, with a p-value of 0.01. The tube output was higher for GEN1 (45.2 mGy/mAs) compared to GEN2 (31.5 mGy/mAs). Additionally, GEN2 resulted in 8% lower MGD values compared to GEN1.

conclusionWhile GEN1 offers better CNR and SNR for larger masses, GEN2 provides superior resolution for calcifications, better MTF, improved DQE, and lower MGD at AEC-determined settings.

Indexed as

BreastBreast NeoplasmsMammographyTomography, X-Ray ComputedFemaleHumansPhantoms, ImagingQuality ControlRadiation DosageRadiometrySignal-To-Noise Ratiobreast cancercomputed tomographycone‐beam CTdedicated breast CTflat‐panel detector

Identifiers

PMID39837652
PMCPMC11972032

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.