Reconstruction Algorithm Design for Mitigating the Orientation Dependent Conspicuity of Fiber-Like signals in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

TL;DR

This paper investigates how fiber-like structures in digital breast tomosynthesis exhibit orientation-dependent visibility and proposes reconstruction algorithm modifications to reduce this effect while balancing depth resolution.

Contribution

The study introduces a reconstruction algorithm design that mitigates orientation-dependent conspicuity of fiber-like signals in DBT, revealing a tradeoff with depth resolution.

Findings

Orientation-dependent signal conspicuity exists in DBT.

Algorithm design can reduce orientation dependence.

Tradeoff between minimizing dependence and preserving depth resolution.

Abstract

There are a number of clinically relevant tasks in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) involving the detection and visual assessment of fiber-like structures such as Cooper's ligaments, blood vessels, and spiculated lesions. Such structures can exhibit orientation dependent variations in conspicuity. This study demonstrates the presence of in-plane orientation-dependent signal conspicuity for fiber-like signals in DBT and shows how reconstruction algorithm design can mitigate this phenomenon. We uncover a tradeoff between minimizing orientation-dependence and preserving depth resolution that is dictated by the regularization strength employed in reconstruction.