Images created using digital mammography are made up of tiny dots of light called pixels.
Digital mammography is an imaging procedure that uses low-dose x-rays to examine the breasts and aid in the detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women. The technology converts x-rays to electrical images that can be viewed and stored on a computer. Hologic and GE are manufacturers of commercially available digital mammography detectors.
Conversion Methods
Digital mammography systems can be divided into two classes. Direct-conversion detectors convert x-rays to electric charges in one step. Indirect-conversion detectors have mechanisms, called scintillators, that first convert the x-rays to visible light, which is then converted to electrical signals. The Hologic digital mammography system uses direct conversion and the GE system uses indirect conversion.
Field of View
The field of view provided by a mammography system should be large enough to accommodate the breast size of most women. According to Hologic, digital detectors measuring 18 by 24 cm are too small to image approximately 20 to 30 percent of U.S. women. Hologic's system detector measures 24 by 29 cm. As of 2011, GE manufactured one system with a detector measuring 18 by 23 cm and a second system with one measuring 24 by 31 cm.
Pixel Size
Images created using digital mammography are made up of tiny dots of light, called pixels. Small pixels generally produce clearer, more defined images than large pixels. According to the Radiological Association of North America, mammography requires pixel sizes ranging from 50 to 100 microns per pixel. According to Hologic, pixel size for their system measures 70 microns, while that of GE's system measures 100 microns.
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