Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is both a powerful and challenging imaging modality: it provides some tomographic information of the anatomy being imaged at radiation doses similar to those in planar imaging, using planar imaging systems with few modifications. This chapter discusses examples of specialized DBT reconstruction algorithms. The basic concepts of mammography remain the same during DBT acquisition: an X-ray source above the compressed breast emits X-rays towards a digital detector positioned below the breast. In addition to the acquisition geometry and tube motion changes, the digital detector needs to be optimized for DBT imaging. Scatter radiation contributes to diminishing the contrast and signal-to-noise ratio of X-ray images. In addition, it contributes to voxel value inaccuracies in the DBT reconstruction slices. Acquisition of DBT images with a scanning slot system requires the X-ray source to be constantly in motion and on during the entire length of the scan.