Gamma-ray detectors for breast imaging

Mark Bennett Williams; Allen R. Goode; Stan Majewski; Daniela Steinbach; Andrew G. Weisenberger; Randy F. Wojcik; Farzin Farzanpay

doi:10.1117/12.277689

7 July 1997 Gamma-ray detectors for breast imaging

Mark Bennett Williams, Allen R. Goode, Stan Majewski, Daniela Steinbach, Andrew G. Weisenberger, Randy F. Wojcik, Farzin Farzanpay

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3115, Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Detector Physics, Optics, and Applications; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.277689
Event: Optical Science, Engineering and Instrumentation '97, 1997, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer of American women and is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women aged 15 - 54; however recent years have shown that early detection using x-ray mammography can lead to a high probability of cure. However, because of mammography's low positive predictive value, surgical or core biopsy is typically required for diagnosis. In addition, the low radiographic contrast of many nonpalpable breast masses, particularly among women with radiographically dense breasts, results in an overall rate of 10% to 25% for missed tumors. Nuclear imaging of the breast using single gamma emitters (scintimammography) such as ^99mTc, or positron emitters such as F-18- fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for positron emission tomography (PET), can provide information on functional or metabolic tumor activity that is complementary to the structural information of x-ray mammography, thereby potentially reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies and missed cancers. This paper summarizes recent data on the efficacy of scintimammography using conventional gamma cameras, and describes the development of dedicated detectors for gamma emission breast imaging. The detectors use new, high density crystal scintillators and large area position sensitive photomultiplier tubes (PSPMTs). Detector design, imaging requirements, and preliminary measured imaging performance are discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Mark Bennett Williams, Allen R. Goode, Stan Majewski, Daniela Steinbach, Andrew G. Weisenberger, Randy F. Wojcik, and Farzin Farzanpay "Gamma-ray detectors for breast imaging", Proc. SPIE 3115, Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Detector Physics, Optics, and Applications, (7 July 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.277689

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