Conference Paper
Tomographic imaging with synchrotron radiation *
S. Pani 1 , F. Arfelli 1 , A. Bravin 2,† , G. Cantatore 1 , R. Longo 1 , A. Olivo 1 , P. Poropat 1 , L. Rigon 1 , G. Tromba 2 , E. Castelli 1 , A. Fantini 3 , A. Tartari 3 , M. Gambaccini 3 , R. Pani 4 , D. Bollini 5 , A. Del Guerra 6
1. Physics Department, Trieste University,
and INFN Trieste (Italy)
2. Sincrotrone Trieste SCpA, Trieste (Italy)
3. Physics Department, Ferrara University, and INFN
Ferrara (Italy)
4. Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology
– Division of Medical Physics, University "La
Sapienza", Rome (Italy)
5. Physics Department, Bologna University, and INFN
Bologna (Italy)
6. Physics Department, Pisa University, and INFN Pisa
(Italy)
Manuscript received: May 5, 2000.
Accepted for publication: June 8, 2000.
Abstract
The SYRMEP collaboration is developing a tomographic imaging project with synchrotron radiation in the energy range 15-35 keV, using a photostimulable phosphor image plate and a high efficiency silicon pixel detector. We present here the preliminary studies which have been carried out in order to define the optimum working parameters and to evaluate the performances of the whole system. Simulation programs have been developed to determine the required angular resolution of the alignment system, and to select the optimal energy to visualize mammographic details while delivering the minimum dose. Images of custom test objects have been acquired in order to evaluate the spatial and contrast resolution of the two detectors. The delivered dose is comparable to the dose delivered in conventional planar mammography.
KEYWORDS: computed tomography, mammography, synchrotron radiation.