An approach to specifying a minimum dose system for mammography using multiparameter optimization techniques.

Analytical expressions have been written for image quality in mammography. Multiparameter optimizations have been conducted to find mammography systems providing the lowest patient dose for a given image quality. The optimizations are subject to constraints imposed by technology, such as power limits on the tube focal spot, absorption efficiency related to detector resolution, and others. The optimizations permit system geometry, kVp, filtration, detector resolution, focal spot size, and grid characteristics to vary simultaneously and self-consistently subject to the constraints. A system configuration approaching a factor of 3 dose reduction has been found without assuming radical technological advances. The system satisfies image quality constraints for both large and small targets and would be possible to implement clinically. The sensitivity of the results to the assumptions made in the modeling has been investigated.