Validation of a software platform for 2D and 3D phase contrast imaging: preliminary subjective evaluation

A complete software platform based on anthropomorphic breast models used with both planar and three-dimensional phase contrast breast imaging is presented and subjectively validated. For the development of the platform, tests with three anthropomorphic breast phantoms, available both in computational and physical form, were designed and implemented. The models are characterized with different complexity: two phantoms are with spheres and one anthropomorphic. Further on, two of the physical breast models were created with the use of 3D printing techniques. These phantoms with thickness of 40 mm and 31 mm, respectively, were based on digital phantoms created with in-house developed software tools. The third physical breast phantom is the L1 phantom developed at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven with 58 mm thickness. Based on this physical phantom, a computational one was created. The three physical breast phantoms were imaged at ID17 biomedical imaging line at ESRF. Two acquisition setups were used: planar and limited angle tomography modes. Simulated and experimental planar and three-dimensional images were compared in terms of visual reproducibility. Results showed that phantoms characterized with more simple structure produce subjectively similar experimental and simulation appearance in terms of object reproduction and similar edge effects. The thicker phantom demonstrated lower visual coincidence between the two types of planar images, due to higher thickness and higher energy incident beam. The results of this study will be used in the design of new experimental study, to be conducted at lower incident beam energy as well as improving the modelling of phase contrast imaging by using Monte Carlo techniques.