Task-based performance analysis of SART for digital breast tomosynthesis using signal CNR and Channelised Hotelling Observers

In this study, we examine the performance of the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) for digital breast tomosynthesis under variations in key imaging parameters, such as the number of iterations, number of projections, angular range, initial guess, radiation dose, etc. We use a real breast CT volume as a ground truth digital phantom from which to simulate x-ray projections under the various selected conditions. The reconstructed image quality is measured using task-based metrics, namely signal CNR and the AUC of a Channelised Hotelling Observer with Laguerre-Gauss basis functions. The task at hand is a signal-known-exactly (SKE) task, where the objective is to detect a simulated mass inserted into the breast CT volume. © 2010 SPIE.