%0 Journal Article
%T Optimizing angular range in digital breast tomosynthesis: A phantom study investigating lesion detection across varied breast density and thickness.
%A Kim HJ
%A Kim HH
%A Eom HJ
%A Choi WJ
%A Chae EY
%A Shin HJ
%A Cha JH
%A Choi YW
%A Choi YJ
%A Kim KH
%A Min J
%A Shim WH
%A Lee S
%A Cho S
%J Phys Med
%V 124
%N 0
%D 2024 Aug 9
%M 38986262
%F 3.119
%R 10.1016/j.ejmp.2024.103419
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To determine the optimal angular range (AR) for digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) systems that provides highest lesion visibility across various breast densities and thicknesses.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A modular DBT phantom, consisting of tissue-equivalent adipose and glandular modules, along with a module embedded with test objects (speckles, masses, fibers), was used to create combinations simulating different breast thicknesses, densities, and lesion locations. A prototype DBT system operated at four ARs (AR±7.5°, AR±12.5°, AR±19°, and AR±25°) to acquire 11 projection images for each combination, with separate fixed doses for thin and thick combinations. Three blinded radiologists independently assessed lesion visibility in reconstructed images; assessments were averaged and compared using linear mixed models.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Speckle visibility was highest with AR±7.5° or AR±12.5°, decreasing with wider ARs in all density and thickness combinations. The difference between AR±7.5° and AR±12.5° was not statistically significant, except for the tube-side speckles in thin-fatty combinations (5.83 [AR±7.5°] vs. 5.39 [AR±12.5°], P = 0.019). Mass visibility was not affected by AR in thick combinations, while AR±12.5° exhibited the highest mass visibility for both thin-fatty and thin-dense combinations (P = 0.032 and 0.007, respectively). Different ARs provided highest fiber visibility for different combinations; however, AR±12.5° consistently provided highest or comparable visibility. AR±12.5° showed highest overall lesion visibility for all density and thickness combinations.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>AR±12.5° exhibited the highest overall lesion visibility across various phantom thicknesses and densities using a projection number of 11.