Digital x-ray mammography is a modern method for the early detection of breast
cancer. The quality of a mammography image depends on various factors, the
detector structure and performance being of primary importance. The aim of this
work was to develop an analytical model simulating the imaging performance of a
new commercially available digital mammography detector. This was achieved within
the framework of the linear cascaded systems (LCS) theory. System analysis has
allowed the estimation of important image quality metrics such as the Modulation
Transfer Function (MTF), the Noise Power Spectrum (NPS), the Detective Quantum
Efficiency (DQE) and the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). The detector was an indirect
detection system consisting of a large area, 100μm thick, CsI:TI scintillator coupled
to an active matrix array of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) photodiodes combined with
thin film transistors (TFT). Pixel size was 100μm, while the active pixel dimension
was 70μm. MTF and DQE data were calculated for air kerma conditions of 25, 53, 67
μGy using a 28 kVp Mo-Mo x-ray spectrum. In addition, the scintillator thickness was
changed in order to find the optimum material characteristics. The theoretical results
were compared with published experimental data. The deviation between the
theoretical and experimental MTF curves was less than 4%, while the DQE
differences were found at an acceptable level.