The purpose of these studies is to develop and evaluate a method for improving clinical detection of pulmonary nodules, using a technique known as digital tomosynthesis. Digital augments a conventional chest exam by providing three-dimensional information through a series of longitudinal slice images. These slice images are reconstructed from a set of discrete projection images acquired at different angles, using a conventional x-ray tube and a new digital flat-panel x-ray detector. The tomosynthesized images may be viewed slice-by-slice or as a 3-D volume-rendered projection in a """"""""virtual fluoroscopy"""""""" viewing environment. The diagnostic benefit of tomosynthesis is the use of 3-D information to improve detection and discrimination of pulmonary nodules by eliminating the confusion of overlying structures. CT would remain the gold-standard for clinical workup once nodules are detected, with tomosynthesis providing a low-dose/low-cost method for improving initial detection accuracy. Clinically the tomosynthesis images would be acquired whenever a digital PA/lateral chest exam is scheduled, but with the lateral image acquired at half the conventional exposure level. The results, using the new flat-panel detector, would be a PA film with improved image quality, a lateral with conventional image quality, and a three-dimensional tomosynthesis data set, all acquired at an overall exposure comparable to a standard screen-film PA/lateral chest exam. Three different tomosynthesis algorithms will be investigated in this proposal: traditional shift-and-add tomosynthesis, a Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT) algorithm with improved registration of images, and a Matrix Inversion Tomosynthesis (MITS) algorithm for improved elimination of residual blurring from structures not in the plane of interest.
The specific aims of the project include: construction of a digital tomosynthesis chest system; improvement of the MITS algorithm; development of a three-dimensional viewing environment; optimization of image acquisition geometry; evaluation of tomosynthesis artifacts; optimization of patient dose; comparison of MITS, TACT, and """"""""conventional"""""""" tomosynthesis; and a clinical test of the hypothesis that tomosynthesis improves the detection of pulmonary nodules over what is possible with conventional radiography.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA080490-03
Application #
6377030
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-DMG (02))
Program Officer
Liu, Guoying
Project Start
1999-08-06
Project End
2002-07-31
Budget Start
2001-08-01
Budget End
2002-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$315,368
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
071723621
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
Godfrey, Devon J; McAdams, H Page; Dobbins 3rd, James T (2013) The effect of averaging adjacent planes for artifact reduction in matrix inversion tomosynthesis. Med Phys 40:021907
Wang, Jiahui; Dobbins 3rd, James T; Li, Qiang (2012) Automated lung segmentation in digital chest tomosynthesis. Med Phys 39:732-41
Samei, Ehsan; Majdi-Nasab, Nariman; Dobbins 3rd, James T et al. (2012) Biplane correlation imaging: a feasibility study based on phantom and human data. J Digit Imaging 25:137-47
Dobbins 3rd, James T (2009) Tomosynthesis imaging: at a translational crossroads. Med Phys 36:1956-67
Dobbins 3rd, James T; McAdams, H Page (2009) Chest tomosynthesis: technical principles and clinical update. Eur J Radiol 72:244-51
Godfrey, Devon J; McAdams, H P; Dobbins, James T Third (2009) Stochastic noise characteristics in matrix inversion tomosynthesis (MITS). Med Phys 36:1521-32
Samei, Ehsan; Ranger, Nicole T; MacKenzie, Alistair et al. (2009) Effective DQE (eDQE) and speed of digital radiographic systems: an experimental methodology. Med Phys 36:3806-17
Samei, Ehsan; Ranger, Nicole T; MacKenzie, Alistair et al. (2008) Detector or system? Extending the concept of detective quantum efficiency to characterize the performance of digital radiographic imaging systems. Radiology 249:926-37
Dobbins 3rd, James T; McAdams, H Page; Godfrey, Devon J et al. (2008) Digital tomosynthesis of the chest. J Thorac Imaging 23:86-92
James, T Dobbins; McAdams, H Page; Song, Jae-Woo et al. (2008) Digital tomosynthesis of the chest for lung nodule detection: interim sensitivity results from an ongoing NIH-sponsored trial. Med Phys 35:2554-7

Showing the most recent 10 out of 20 publications