Όνομα Περιοδικού:e-Journal of Science & Technology e-Περιοδικό Επιστήμης & Τεχνολογίας
The aim of this study is to examine the impact of dark signal on assessing the image
quality in computerized mammography. A GE analogue mammography unit was
calibrated to be used with an Agfa CR35-X system. Tests for quality control were
performed and Image Plates (IPs) were erased by the CR system. All IPs were first
exposed to known amounts of scatter radiation and then used to take mammographic
images of phantoms with varying density (a PASMAM-1054 Phantom with PMMA
and Al inserts). Since high Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and high Contrast-to-noise
ratio (CNR) are of great importance in mammographic image quality, we measured
SNR and CNR of the taken images. Our results show the effect of scatter radiation on
SNR and CNR. Scatter radiation increases SNR and decreases CNR. The impact of
background signal was found not to be negligible. Dark signal deteriorates image
quality in CR mammography. Consequently, further investigation may be warranted
and daily erasure of the IPs is recommended in order to limit dark signal effect on
image quality.