Focal Spot, Summer/Fall 2009

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1112/thumbnail.jp

QUANTITATIVE THREE DIMENSIONAL ELASTICITY IMAGING

Neoplastic tissue is typically highly vascularized, contains abnormal concentrations of extracellular proteins (e.g. collagen, proteoglycans) and has a high interstitial fluid pres- sure compared to most normal tissues. These changes result in an overall stiffening typical of most solid tumors. Elasticity Imaging (EI) is a technique which uses imaging systems to measure relative tissue deformation and thus noninvasively infer its mechanical stiffness. Stiffness is recovered from measured deformation by using an appropriate mathematical model and solving an inverse problem. The integration of EI with existing imaging modal- ities can improve their diagnostic and research capabilities. The aim of this work is to develop and evaluate techniques to image and quantify the mechanical properties of soft tissues in three dimensions (3D). To that end, this thesis presents and validates a method by which three dimensional ultrasound images can be used to image and quantify the shear modulus distribution of tissue mimicking phantoms. This work is presented to motivate and justify the use of this elasticity imaging technique in a clinical breast cancer screening study. The imaging methodologies discussed are intended to improve the specificity of mammography practices in general. During the development of these techniques, several issues concerning the accuracy and uniqueness of the result were elucidated. Two new algorithms for 3D EI are designed and characterized in this thesis. The first provides three dimensional motion estimates from ultrasound images of the deforming ma- terial. The novel features include finite element interpolation of the displacement field, inclusion of prior information and the ability to enforce physical constraints. The roles of regularization, mesh resolution and an incompressibility constraint on the accuracy of the measured deformation is quantified. The estimated signal to noise ratio of the measured displacement fields are approximately 1800, 21 and 41 for the axial, lateral and eleva- tional components, respectively. The second algorithm recovers the shear elastic modulus distribution of the deforming material by efficiently solving the three dimensional inverse problem as an optimization problem. This method utilizes finite element interpolations, the adjoint method to evaluate the gradient and a quasi-Newton BFGS method for optimiza- tion. Its novel features include the use of the adjoint method and TVD regularization with piece-wise constant interpolation. A source of non-uniqueness in this inverse problem is identified theoretically, demonstrated computationally, explained physically and overcome practically. Both algorithms were test on ultrasound data of independently characterized tissue mimicking phantoms. The recovered elastic modulus was in all cases within 35% of the reference elastic contrast. Finally, the preliminary application of these techniques to tomosynthesis images showed the feasiblity of imaging an elastic inclusion.CenSSIS, the Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems, under the Engineering Research Centers Program of the National Science Foundation (award number EEC-9986821

A new challenge in Radiology: Radiomics in breast cancer diagnostics

Breast cancer is one of the most common and widespread cancers that women can have. In order to prevent the occurrence of cancer, it is important to perform a preventive examination, which includes ultrasound and mammography. Radiology as a branch of medicine has seen rapid development in recent decades thanks to the development of technology, and artificial intelligence is increasingly used in radiology. Radiomics is a new method of radiological image processing that uses software programs to analyse tissue during diagnostic imaging. It is a combination of multiple imaging modalities with the aim of highlighting pathological formations that are not visible to the naked eye or are less significant. The aim of the paper is to introduce to the readers with radiomics and to explain in more detail how it works, and how it was integrated into certain radiological diagnostics and greatly facilitated the image processing process and the diagnosis of breast cancer. Many studies have confirmed that radiomics is a method with numerous advantages, but like any new field, it has its drawbacks. The main limitation is the computer system, which must be standardised so that radiomic data processing can be used in all institutions and so that these institutions can exchange information with each other without difficulty. The problem is also false positive findings, which greatly increase the costs of institutions and the time it takes for patients to reach a diagnosis. The solution to these allegations is the development of new computer algorithms and an increase in the sensitivity of computer detection of lesions. Radiomics will certainly play an important role in diagnostics and image analysis over a period of time. Given that artificial intelligence is still in the process of development, radiomics may not have an independent application, but it will certainly make the work of doctors easier in the analysis of radiological images

Proceedings Virtual Imaging Trials in Medicine 2024

This submission comprises the proceedings of the 1st Virtual Imaging Trials in Medicine conference, organized by Duke University on April 22-24, 2024. The listed authors serve as the program directors for this conference. The VITM conference is a pioneering summit uniting experts from academia, industry and government in the fields of medical imaging and therapy to explore the transformative potential of in silico virtual trials and digital twins in revolutionizing healthcare. The proceedings are categorized by the respective days of the conference: Monday presentations, Tuesday presentations, Wednesday presentations, followed by the abstracts for the posters presented on Monday and Tuesday

Optical imaging for breast cancer prescreening

Breast cancer prescreening is carried out prior to the gold standard screening using X-ray mammography and/or ultrasound. Prescreening is typically carried out using clinical breast examination (CBE) or self-breast examinations (SBEs). Since CBE and SBE have high false-positive rates, there is a need for a low-cost, noninvasive, non-radiative, and portable imaging modality that can be used as a prescreening tool to complement CBE/SBE. This review focuses on the various hand-held optical imaging devices that have been developed and applied toward early-stage breast cancer detection or as a prescreening tool via phantom, in vivo, and breast cancer imaging studies. Apart from the various optical devices developed by different research groups, a wide-field fiber-free near-infrared optical scanner has been developed for transillumination-based breast imaging in our Optical Imaging Laboratory. Preliminary in vivo studies on normal breast tissues, with absorption-contrasted targets placed in the intramammary fold, detected targets as deep as 8.8 cm. Future work involves in vivo imaging studies on breast cancer subjects and comparison with the gold standard X-ray mammography approach

Electron optics simulation for designing carbon nanotube based field emission X-ray source

In this dissertation, electron optics simulation for designing carbon nanotube (CNT) based field emission x-ray source for medical imaging applications will be presented. However, for design optimization of x-ray tubes accurate electron beam optics simulation is essential. To facilitate design of CNT x-ray sources a commercial 3D finite element software has been chosen for extensive simulation. The results show that a simplified model of uniform electron field emission from the cathode surface is not sufficient when compared to experimental measurements. This necessitated the development of a refined model to describe a macroscopic field emission CNT cathode for electron beam optics simulations. The model emulates the random distribution of CNTs and the associated variation of local field enhancement factor. The main parameter of the model has been derived empirically from the experimentally measured I-V characteristics of the CNT cathode. Simulation results based on this model agree well with experiments which include measurements of the transmission rate and focus spot size. The model provides a consistent simulation platform for optimization of electron beam optics in CNT x-ray source design. A systematic study of electron beam optics in CNT x-ray tubes led to the development of a new generation of compact x-ray source with multiple pixels. A micro focus field emission x-ray source with a variable focal spot size has been fully characterized and evaluated. It has been built and successfully integrated into micro-CT scanners which are capable of dynamic cardiac imaging of free-breathing small animals with high spatial and temporal resolutions. In addition a spatially distributed high power multi-beam x-ray source has also been designed and integrated into a stationary digital breast tomosynthesis (s-DBT) configuration. This system has the potential to reduce the total scan time to 4 seconds and yield superior image quality in breast imaging

Diagnostic Challenge of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: What Is the News? Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Emerging Role of Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography

Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common histologic form of breast cancer, representing 5% to 15% of all invasive breast cancers. Due to an insidious proliferative pattern, invasive lobular carcinoma remains clinically and radiologically elusive in many cases. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MR) is considered the most accurate imaging modality in detecting and staging invasive lobular carcinoma and it is strongly recommended in pre-operative planning for all ILC. Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a new diagnostic method that enables the accurate detection of malignant breast lesions similar to that of breast MR. CESM is also a promising breast imaging method for planning surgeries. In this study, we compare the ability of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) with breast MR in the preoperative assessment of the extent of invasive lobular carcinoma. All patients with proven invasive lobular carcinoma treated in our breast cancer center underwent preoperative breast MRI and CESM. Images were reviewed by two dedicated breast radiologists and results were compared to the reference standard histopathology. CESM was similar and in some cases more accurate than breast MR in assessing the extent of disease in invasive lobular cancers. Further evaluation in larger prospective randomized trials is needed to validate our preliminary results

Development of Prospective Gating in Stationary Digital Chest Tomosynthesis Using a Carbon Nanotube X-ray Source Array

Purpose: To quantify the benefit of prospectively gated stationary digital chest tomosynthesis (Gs-DCT) using a carbon nanotube (CNT) x-ray source array in a free breathing porcine study. Methods: The Gs-DCT x-ray system consists of a linear x-ray array tube (80kVp, 0.125mAs per projection for 29 projections over a 12 angular span) and a flat panel detector (5 fps). Imaging was performed on an anesthetized, free-breathing 13.5kg pig. A respiratory trace was acquired through a transducer belt around the thorax. Each gated projection image was acquired at the temporal coincidence of the detector integration time and the peak inhalation of the pig. The projection images were reconstructed using iterative reconstruction with a 2mm slice thickness using iterative reconstruction. Image blur was assessed as the reproduction of the diaphragm in the reconstructed images. Respiratory phase timing quality was assessed through cross-correlation analysis. Results: Animal respiration rate was 24.3+/-3.5bpm. The scan time for the gated scan was 86.9 +/- 2.9s compared to the un-gated scanning time 6.3 .6s. An entrance dose of 0.4mSv was used. The blur in the reproduction of the diaphragm in the reconstructed images for gated study was 1.8 0.5mm where in the un-gated case the diaphragm was 2.60.6 mm. The average cross correlation coefficient between of the respiratory trace at the time of the x-ray pulse was .91.02 for the gated scan and .11+/- .01 for the un-gated scan. Conclusions: Prospective gated imaging significantly reduced the motion blur, substantially improving the image quality of the tomosynthesis images. The CNT based x-ray sources enable precise x-ray pulse generation on demand. If enabled clinically, the Gs-DCT system could potentially obtain 3D image stacks in patients that are unable to hold their breaths, such as the pediatric or intubated patient population. Prospectively gated human studies are planned.Doctor of Philosoph