スクリーン／フィルム乳房撮影法における乳房線量測定システム

The average glandular dose to glandular tissue m mammography is generally assumed to be a function of beam quality (HVL), x-ray tube target material, tube voltage, breast thickness, breast composition and, to a lesser extent, x-ray tube voltage waveform. The average glandular dose is generally determined from published tables with knowledge of the above function. Tables for a high frequency x-ray generator are not yet published. In our study, the lookup tables for the average glandular dose were made at 28 kV (high frequency x-ray generator), employing a breast simulating tissue (0-100% adipose tissue, 0-100% glandular tissue) phantom for an Mo target - Mo filter source assembly. We tried to estimate breast composition from x-ray mammograms by digital image processing techniques, also using the simulating tissue phantom. Then the system that automatically calculates the average glandular dose from digitized clinical x-ray mammograms was built. It is considered that this system can contribute to objective evaluation of the average glandular dose.乳房X線撮影法において乳腺組織に対する平均放射線吸収線量，すなわち平均乳腺線量は放射線のリスクの最も有用な測定法であり，現在，乳房に対する線量の評価に用いられている指標である。一般に，平均乳腺線量は線質（HVL），X線管球ターゲット材料，管電圧，圧迫乳房厚さ，乳房構成および（ある程度）X線管電圧波形の関数であるとされている。平均乳腺線量は，上記の関数についての情報を備えた表が公表されており，一般にその表を使って決定されている。近年，インバータ式といわれる高周波X線発生装置が普及してきた。しかし，その装置用の表は，まだ公表されていない。我々の研究では，乳房組織をシュミレートするファントム（0～100％乳腺組織，0～100％脂肪組織）を使用して，28kVでMoターゲット―Moフィルタソースアセンブリーを備えた高周波X線発生装置のために，平均乳腺線量用のルックアップテーブルを作成した。同様に，乳房組織をシュミレートするファントムを使用して，乳房X線写真から，ディジタル・イメージプロセシング技術によって，乳房構成の評価を試みた。そして，ディジタイズされた臨床乳房X線写真から，平均乳腺線量を自動的に計算するシステムを構築した。サンプル数が少ないため断定はできないが，日本女性は，基準構成（50％の脂肪および50％の乳腺組織）と比較すると，脂肪が少ない傾向を分析結果は示唆していた。また，平均乳腺吸収線量の限度は，明確に規定されていないが，American College of Radiology（ACR）は4 mGyなどを推奨している。また日本では，3 mGyが推奨されているが，我々の撮影システムはこれらを十分満足していた。このように本システムは，平均乳腺線量の客観的な評価に寄与するとともに，DR（digital radiography）などに応用すると，すなわちルックアップテーブルをDRのコンピュータに保存しておけば，撮影後すぐに乳房構成および平均乳腺線量を算出できる可能性をもつ

Extended-cycle processによる乳房撮影用増感紙／フィルムシステムの画質改善

Extended-cycle process is the term used for a processor in which the processing time has been prolonged usually to approximate 210 seconds. It has been known that the extended-cycle process of some single-emulsion films as used for mammography may enhance film contrast and increase film speed. So the speed was increased in lower speed and higher resolution system than conventional systems by means of using the extended-cycle process in this paper. We investigated how much the resolution of the system was kept. A single screen-single emulsion combination, Konica M-100/CM-H was employed as a low speed and high resolution system. This film after exposure was processed in the different combinations of developing temperatures, 30, 32 and 34℃, and processing time of 210 seconds. On the other hand, Konica M-200/CM-H was employed as a high speed system. This film was processed in the standard-cycle processing (34℃, 90 seconds). Those systems were compared on contrast, speed, screen-film blur and noise by a characteristic curve, MTF (modulation transfer function) and WS (wiener spectrum). Furthermore, the RMI 165 phantom was used to evaluate visibility of mammographic details of these systems. As a result, in the extended-cycle process at the developing temperatures of 32 or 34°C and processing time of 210 seconds for M-100/CM-H, it was possible to increase the speed as much as the higher speed system, M-200/CM-H. Then the contrast, the MTF and the visibility were also improved as compared to the higher speed system. Furthermore patient dose could be reduced at the developing temperature of 34℃ and processing time of 210 seconds in M-100/CM-H.通常,extended-cycle processは処理時間が約210秒に延ばされた現像機のために使われる用語である｡乳房撮影に使われるような片面乳剤フィルムにおけるextended-cycle processは,フィルムコントラストを増し,感度をあげることが良く知られている｡そこで,本論文ではextended-cycle processにより低感度,高解像度システムの感度を上げ,どの程度解像度が維持されるかを調べた｡片面増感紙／片面フィルムの組合わせであるKonica M-100/CM-Hを低感度,高解像度システムとして用いた｡露光後のフィルムは現像温度30,32, 34度,処理時間210秒の異なる組合わせで現像処理した。一方,高感度システムとしてKonica M-200/CM-Hを用い,このフィルムは標準現像(34℃,90秒)された｡感度,増感紙／フイルムのぼけ,雑音に関して,特性曲線,MTF(modulation transfer function), WS(wiener spectrum)によってこれらのシステムを比較した｡さらにこれらのシステムにおける乳房写真の細部視覚評価のためにRM165ファントムを使用した｡その結果,M-100/CM-Hに対するextended-cycle process現像温度32, 34℃,処理時間210秒のextended-cycle processにおいて,高感度システムM-200/CM-Hと同等の感度を上げることが可能であった｡そのとき,コントラスト,MTF,視覚的検出能も高感度システムより向上した｡さらに,現像温度34℃,処理時間210秒では,被曝線量の低減が可能であった

New Stepwedge for Bootstrap Sensitometry in Medical Radiography

A new stepwedge has been developed for bootstrap sensitometry, which is used for determining the characteristic curve of radiographic screen/film systems. Since each step of the stepwedge is separated by the lead septum, flare generated under one step will not penetrate the region of another step. The metal of the stepwedge can be changed with various materials. Characteristic curves obtained with new stepwedge bootstrap (NSB) and conventional stepwedge bootstrap (CSB) techniques were compared with those obtained for screen/film systems with inverse sqare sensitometry. The inverse square method was used as the reference standard for accuracy. The NSB method provided characteristic curves that agreed well with those obtained using the inverse square method. The slope of the curve in the CSB method was lower than that in the inverse square or NBS method, because of scatter radiation. The shape of the characteristic curve from the NSB method did not vary with the materials of step metals (aluminum and copper). The cumulative error involved when using the bootstrap method is also discussed

現像温度および時間のマンモフイルム特性に与える影響

The influence for developing temperature and processing time within film processing conditions was investigated using four mammographic films, Konica New CM, Fuji UM-MA HC, Kodak Min-R M and Kodak EB/RA (for rapid system). And Fuji UR-2, a double-emulsion film, was used as a control. Those sensitometric strips exposed by a sensitometer were processed in the different combinations of developing temperatures ranging from 28 to 36℃, processing times from 45 to 210 sec. Average gradient, relative speed and base plus fog obtained from the measured film characteristic curves were evaluated for the different developing temperatures and times. Fuji UR-2 was scarcely affected and mammographic films were greatly affected in the different combinations without an increase in base plus fog except EB/RA. In New CM, UM-MA HC and Min-R M, the average gradients and the relative speeds increased as the developing temperature was higher and the developing time was longer, but the increases were limit on the combination of 36℃ and 210 sec in New CM and UM-MA HC. In EB/RA, the average gradients were almost constant and the relative speeds increased slightly like the double-emulsion film. These results suggested that it would be possible to contribute to dose reduction and advancement of contrast in New CM, UM-MA HC and Min-R M by changing these processing parameters.フィルム処理条件において,現像温度と処理時間に対する影響を4種類のマンモグラフィ用フィルムKonica New CM, Fuji UM-MA HC,Kodak Min-R M,迅速処理用Kodak EB/RAについて調べた｡そして,比較基準用として両面乳剤フィルムFuji UR-2を用いた｡感光計で露光したフィルムを現像温度28～36℃,処理時間45～210秒で処理した｡特性曲線から得られたフィルム特性（平均階調度,相対感度,カブリ濃度）を異なる現像温度,現像時間に対して評価した｡UR-2はほとんど影響を受けず,マンモグラフィ用フィルムは,カブリ濃度が上昇することなく,現像条件の影響を大きく受けた。New CM, UM-MA HC,Min-R Mは現像温度の上昇,処理時間の延長に伴い,平均階調度と相対感度は増加した｡しかし,New CM, UM-MA HCの36℃,210秒で増加は限度に達した｡EB/RAの平均階調度は一定で,相対感度は両面乳剤フイルムと同 様にわずかな増加であった｡これらの結果は,New CM, UM-MA HC, Min-R Mにおいて,処理条件を変化させることにより,被曝低減,コントラスト向上に貢献できる可能性を示唆していた

The influence of air attenuation in characteristic curve for mammographic screen-film system

マンモグラフィ専用装置を使用して，距離法で低エネルギー領域のX線におけるマンモグラフィ用増感紙／フィルムシステムの特性曲線を得るためには，空気滅弱の影響を考慮する必要がある。その影響について，実効エネルギーから空気減弱分を補正，照射線量測定による補正，Bednarek法を応用した新距離法の3種類の方法を使って検討した。さらに，一般撮影装置でも，マンモ用システムに対して距離法で特性曲線を作成し，エネルギ ーの変化による影響についても検討した。その結果，3方法の特性曲線およびグラディエント曲線は，新距離法が高濃度域でわずかにずれるもののほぼ一致した。新距離法に対する平均階調度，最大階調度の最大誤差は，2.7％，0.2％であり，一般撮影用装置の距離法と3方法との間では，一般撮影用装置の距離法に対して最大誤差は2.7％，1.5％であった。以上のことから，エネルギーの変化による特性曲線への影響はほとんどなく，低エネルギー領域での特性曲線は空気特配の補正を行うことのみで得られると考えられる。It is necessary to take air attenuation into account when we use inverse square sensitometry to obtain characteristic curve for the mammographic screen-film system at low x-ray energies as used with the dedicated unit. Three kinds of the inverse square sensitometry approach of correcting by air attenuation obtained from effective energy, of correcting by exposure dosimetry and of using modified the technique of Bednarek were employed to investigated the influence of x-ray energy in the characteristic curves for the mammographic screen-film system. In addition, the inverse square sensitometry with the general radiographic unit was employed and the influence of x-ray high energy in the characteristic curves was also investigated for the same screeri-film system. Though characteristic curves and gradient curves of the new inverse square sensitometry were a little lower than the others in high-density region, the curves with three kinds of methods almost coincided. Maximum relative errors of average gradient and maximum gradient for modified the technique of Bednarek were found to be 2.7% and 0.2% among the others respectively. Moreover, maximum relative errors of gradient and maximum gradient for the inverse square sensitometry with the general radiographic unit were 2.7% and 1.5% among three kinds of methods with the dedicated unit respectively. It was considered that the characteristic curves for the mammographic screen-film　system were little influenced by x-ray energy and could be obtained only by correcting　air attenuation from above results

RESOLUTION PROPERTIES OF CRT MONITORS

We have developed a new technique for measuring the modulation transfer function (MTF) of a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor. The "nominal" MTF was measured by displaying a line image of a width of one pixel on the CRT monitor using the pattern generator. We also measured the effective pixel width. In order to obtain the "actual" MTF, the nominal MTF was divided by the sinc function which is the Fourier transform of the effective pixel width. The results indicate that the corrected MTF　converges to the constant value as the effective pixel width is narrower. Thus, the actual MTFs were determined and compared in the horizontal direction for two CRT monitors

Estimation of balium preparations with high density and low viscosity

In this paper we compared the balium preparations having high density and low viscosity (BP-HDLV) with those currently in use. We adopted the stomaches of pigs and the new phantom manufactured by ourselves. We especialy noted the quality of the contrast. The results indicate that BP-HDLV do not always make high contrast. The contrast is related to fluidity besides density. The fluidity of BP-HDLV should be improved. In adition, it costs much to increase content of balium. Therefore, we can not find out positive significance to use these BP-HDLV

Physical Image Quality of Rapid Processing Films

The imaging properties of Konica "new" SR series films and "old" MG-SR series films for rapid processing were measured in combination with green-emitting intensifying screens. The measured image quality prarameters include: characteristic curve, modulation transfer function (MTF) and Wiener spectrum. The relative speeds of the new SR series systems were slower than those of the old MG-SR series systems from 10 to 25%. The MTF's of the new systems were generally comparable to those of the old systems, except that SR-G system was improved with an increase of approximately 10%. In the Wiener spectrum measurement, however, the new systems showed from 10 to 35% decrease in low-frequency noise

The contrast media containing soft drinks for X-ray examination of the stomach

胃検診の受診者を増やし、検査を円滑に行う上で、造影剤である硫酸バリウム懸濁液の飲みにくさが障害の一つとなっている。これを改善する試みとして、懸濁液に市販の粉末清涼飲料を混入し検討したところ72.1％の人から通常のものよりも飲みやすいという回答を得た。今後、臨床的な検討を加えながら、さらに創意工夫していく必要がある。Barium sulfate suspensions are disliked to drink by many people. That is one of the obstacles to increse person who consult doctors and to have medical examinations smoothly. We mixed soft drinks into the suspensions to improve this problem. As a result they were popular among 72.1% people. We need to study about these suspensions further, adding the clinical matters

Analysis of Tempormandibular Joint by Image Processing -Discrimination of Condylar Position-

Tomography is clinically useful in the diagnosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. The TMJ is formed by the condyle and the glenoid fossa, and there exists TMJ space between them. Image processing was employed in the present study, and the reference points of the condyle and the glenoid fossa were determined from the tomogram. Subsequently, the TMJ space was measured automatically in the image analysis. The TMJs of 98 patients were examined practically and the characteristics of each result were studied. There is a possibility of discriminating an abnormal condylar position from a normal one by making use of the TMJ space and the distance between two reference points