ABSTRACT
Mammography is considered the best tool for the early detection of breast cancer and puts the highest demands on the imaging systems, among all the medical applications. In fact, both high spatial and contrast resolutions are needed for visualizing small structures as microcalcifications and for differentiating breast tissues with very similar X-ray absorption properties, such as tumor opacities. With these requirements, mammography necessitates very small detecting elements and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): it is one of the most challenging imaging technologies and is the most recent X-ray-based imaging technology converted to the digital world. Conventional screen-film (analog) imaging is still far from perfect; approximately 10% of breast cancers that are detected by breast self examination or physical examination are not visible by screen film [1]. This is particularly a problem with radiographically dense breasts, affecting between 15% and 50% of women, depending on the definition
9.1 From Analog to Digital Mammography ....................................................... 233 9.2 Computed Radiography ................................................................................ 238
9.2.1 Dual-Side Reading ............................................................................ 239 9.2.2 Line-Scan Reading ...........................................................................240 9.2.3 Columnar Photostimulable Phosphor ...............................................242
