Considering the Figure of Merit as a parameter of optimization in Mammography: a case study of the performance in a CR and a DR system

Mammography is an important examination for the early detection of breast cancer, and its use requires radiation protection considerations to ensure the lowest possible risk to the patient. The Figure of Merit (FOM) is a commonly used tool to quantify the relation between image quality and radiatio...

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Main Authors: Raíssa Xavier Contassot, Leonardo Catusso, Isabela Rocha Veiga da Silva, Fabrício Nery Garrafiel, Davi Silveira Azevedo, Cássio Costa Ferreira, Marcela Costa Alcântara Estácio, Felipe Amorim Santos, João Vinícius Batista Valença
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR) 2025-02-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences
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Online Access:https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2765
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author Raíssa Xavier Contassot
Leonardo Catusso
Isabela Rocha Veiga da Silva
Fabrício Nery Garrafiel
Davi Silveira Azevedo
Cássio Costa Ferreira
Marcela Costa Alcântara Estácio
Felipe Amorim Santos
João Vinícius Batista Valença
author_facet Raíssa Xavier Contassot
Leonardo Catusso
Isabela Rocha Veiga da Silva
Fabrício Nery Garrafiel
Davi Silveira Azevedo
Cássio Costa Ferreira
Marcela Costa Alcântara Estácio
Felipe Amorim Santos
João Vinícius Batista Valença
author_sort Raíssa Xavier Contassot
collection DOAJ
description Mammography is an important examination for the early detection of breast cancer, and its use requires radiation protection considerations to ensure the lowest possible risk to the patient. The Figure of Merit (FOM) is a commonly used tool to quantify the relation between image quality and radiation dose. Higher FOM values suggest the most appropriate set of radiographic parameters to use in the examination. The objective of this study was to use the FOM as a metric for evaluating the optimization of two different clinical practices, one using a computed radiography (CR) system and the other using a digital radiography (DR) system. For both systems, three PMMA thicknesses were used (2, 4 and 7 cm), and acquisitions were performed at four voltage values commonly applied in clinical routines. Manual and automatic exposure modes were used for both systems. The CR system used Mo/Mo and Mo/Rh target-filter combinations, while the DR system used W/Rh and W/Ag. The image quality parameter used was the Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR), and the considered dosimetric quantity was the Mean Glandular Dose (MGD). The FOMs presented relevant dependence on voltage and PMMA thicknesses, as well as variations with the different target-filter combinations. For both systems, when using 2 cm of PMMA, the FOM results were higher in the automatic acquisition mode. For 4 and 7 cm of PMMA, however, manual parameter adjustments became more relevant. These results reinforce the value of FOM as an important parameter in determining the most suitable acquisition settings for each analyzed equipment.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2319-0612
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR)
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spelling doaj-art-e547af76484b47a2a69109680b3f630b2025-08-20T03:28:13ZengBrazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR)Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences2319-06122025-02-0113110.15392/2319-0612.2025.27652390Considering the Figure of Merit as a parameter of optimization in Mammography: a case study of the performance in a CR and a DR systemRaíssa Xavier Contassot0Leonardo Catusso1Isabela Rocha Veiga da Silva2Fabrício Nery Garrafiel3Davi Silveira Azevedo4Cássio Costa Ferreira5Marcela Costa Alcântara Estácio6Felipe Amorim Santos7João Vinícius Batista Valença8Hospital de Clínicas de Porto AlegreUniversidade Federal de UberlândiaUniversidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto AlegreHospital São Lucas da PUCRSCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearHospital Universitário da UFSHospital Universitário da UFSHospital Universitário da UFSUniversidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre Mammography is an important examination for the early detection of breast cancer, and its use requires radiation protection considerations to ensure the lowest possible risk to the patient. The Figure of Merit (FOM) is a commonly used tool to quantify the relation between image quality and radiation dose. Higher FOM values suggest the most appropriate set of radiographic parameters to use in the examination. The objective of this study was to use the FOM as a metric for evaluating the optimization of two different clinical practices, one using a computed radiography (CR) system and the other using a digital radiography (DR) system. For both systems, three PMMA thicknesses were used (2, 4 and 7 cm), and acquisitions were performed at four voltage values commonly applied in clinical routines. Manual and automatic exposure modes were used for both systems. The CR system used Mo/Mo and Mo/Rh target-filter combinations, while the DR system used W/Rh and W/Ag. The image quality parameter used was the Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR), and the considered dosimetric quantity was the Mean Glandular Dose (MGD). The FOMs presented relevant dependence on voltage and PMMA thicknesses, as well as variations with the different target-filter combinations. For both systems, when using 2 cm of PMMA, the FOM results were higher in the automatic acquisition mode. For 4 and 7 cm of PMMA, however, manual parameter adjustments became more relevant. These results reinforce the value of FOM as an important parameter in determining the most suitable acquisition settings for each analyzed equipment. https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2765figure of meritoptimizationimage qualitymammography
spellingShingle Raíssa Xavier Contassot
Leonardo Catusso
Isabela Rocha Veiga da Silva
Fabrício Nery Garrafiel
Davi Silveira Azevedo
Cássio Costa Ferreira
Marcela Costa Alcântara Estácio
Felipe Amorim Santos
João Vinícius Batista Valença
Considering the Figure of Merit as a parameter of optimization in Mammography: a case study of the performance in a CR and a DR system
Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences
figure of merit
optimization
image quality
mammography
title Considering the Figure of Merit as a parameter of optimization in Mammography: a case study of the performance in a CR and a DR system
title_full Considering the Figure of Merit as a parameter of optimization in Mammography: a case study of the performance in a CR and a DR system
title_fullStr Considering the Figure of Merit as a parameter of optimization in Mammography: a case study of the performance in a CR and a DR system
title_full_unstemmed Considering the Figure of Merit as a parameter of optimization in Mammography: a case study of the performance in a CR and a DR system
title_short Considering the Figure of Merit as a parameter of optimization in Mammography: a case study of the performance in a CR and a DR system
title_sort considering the figure of merit as a parameter of optimization in mammography a case study of the performance in a cr and a dr system
topic figure of merit
optimization
image quality
mammography
url https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2765
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