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Evaluation of 3D printed contrast detail phantoms for mammography quality assurance

Boll, Måns ; Vent, Trevor ; Tomic, Hanna LU ; Bernhardsson, Christian LU orcid ; Dustler, Magnus LU ; Tingberg, Anders LU and Bakic, Predrag R. LU (2022) 16th International Workshop on Breast Imaging, IWBI 2022 In Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 12286.
Abstract

Objects created by 3D printers are increasingly used in various medical applications. Today, affordable 3D printers, using Fused Deposition Modeling are widely available. In this project, a commercially available 3D printer was used to replicate a conventional radiographic contrast detail phantom. Printing materials were selected by comparing their x-ray attenuation properties. Two replicas were printed using polylactic acid, with different filling patterns. The printed phantoms were imaged by a clinical mammography system, using automatic exposure control. Phantom images were visually and quantitively compared to images of the corresponding conventional contrast detail phantom. Visual scoring of the contrast detail elements was... (More)

Objects created by 3D printers are increasingly used in various medical applications. Today, affordable 3D printers, using Fused Deposition Modeling are widely available. In this project, a commercially available 3D printer was used to replicate a conventional radiographic contrast detail phantom. Printing materials were selected by comparing their x-ray attenuation properties. Two replicas were printed using polylactic acid, with different filling patterns. The printed phantoms were imaged by a clinical mammography system, using automatic exposure control. Phantom images were visually and quantitively compared to images of the corresponding conventional contrast detail phantom. Visual scoring of the contrast detail elements was performed by a medical physics student. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated for each phantom element. The diameter and thickness of the smallest visible phantom object were 0.44 mm and 0.09 mm, respectively, for both filling patterns. For the conventional phantom, the diameter and thickness of the smallest visible object were 0.31 mm and 0.09 mm. Visual inspection of printed phantoms revealed some linear artefacts. These artefacts were however not visible on mammographic projections. Quantitively, average CNR of printed phantom objects followed the same trend with an increase of average CNR with increasing disk height. However, there is a limitation of detail objects with disk diameters below 1.25 mm, caused by the available nozzle size. Based upon the encouraging results, future work will explore the use of different materials and smaller nozzle diameters.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
3D printing, contrast detail phantom, contrast-tonoise ratio, Mammography quality assurance, visual analysis
host publication
16th International Workshop on Breast Imaging, IWBI 2022
series title
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
editor
Bosmans, Hilde ; Marshall, Nicholas and Van Ongeval, Chantal
volume
12286
article number
122860J
publisher
SPIE
conference name
16th International Workshop on Breast Imaging, IWBI 2022
conference location
Leuven, Belgium
conference dates
2022-05-22 - 2022-05-25
external identifiers
  • scopus:85136127262
ISSN
0277-786X
1996-756X
ISBN
9781510655843
DOI
10.1117/12.2625732
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1a846998-b43a-4388-b5b8-296bc0ff23f0
date added to LUP
2022-10-20 12:40:48
date last changed
2024-04-04 12:49:22
@inproceedings{1a846998-b43a-4388-b5b8-296bc0ff23f0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objects created by 3D printers are increasingly used in various medical applications. Today, affordable 3D printers, using Fused Deposition Modeling are widely available. In this project, a commercially available 3D printer was used to replicate a conventional radiographic contrast detail phantom. Printing materials were selected by comparing their x-ray attenuation properties. Two replicas were printed using polylactic acid, with different filling patterns. The printed phantoms were imaged by a clinical mammography system, using automatic exposure control. Phantom images were visually and quantitively compared to images of the corresponding conventional contrast detail phantom. Visual scoring of the contrast detail elements was performed by a medical physics student. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated for each phantom element. The diameter and thickness of the smallest visible phantom object were 0.44 mm and 0.09 mm, respectively, for both filling patterns. For the conventional phantom, the diameter and thickness of the smallest visible object were 0.31 mm and 0.09 mm. Visual inspection of printed phantoms revealed some linear artefacts. These artefacts were however not visible on mammographic projections. Quantitively, average CNR of printed phantom objects followed the same trend with an increase of average CNR with increasing disk height. However, there is a limitation of detail objects with disk diameters below 1.25 mm, caused by the available nozzle size. Based upon the encouraging results, future work will explore the use of different materials and smaller nozzle diameters.</p>}},
  author       = {{Boll, Måns and Vent, Trevor and Tomic, Hanna and Bernhardsson, Christian and Dustler, Magnus and Tingberg, Anders and Bakic, Predrag R.}},
  booktitle    = {{16th International Workshop on Breast Imaging, IWBI 2022}},
  editor       = {{Bosmans, Hilde and Marshall, Nicholas and Van Ongeval, Chantal}},
  isbn         = {{9781510655843}},
  issn         = {{0277-786X}},
  keywords     = {{3D printing; contrast detail phantom; contrast-tonoise ratio; Mammography quality assurance; visual analysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{SPIE}},
  series       = {{Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering}},
  title        = {{Evaluation of 3D printed contrast detail phantoms for mammography quality assurance}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2625732}},
  doi          = {{10.1117/12.2625732}},
  volume       = {{12286}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}