Affiliations: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Akron, Akron OH 44325, USA. | Division of Diagnostic Radiology, The Cleveland Clinic
Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. | Department of Radiology, Northeastern Ohio
Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM), Rootstown, OH~44272, USA. | Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
Note: [] corresponding author: George C. Giakos, Olson Research Center,
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325,
USA. Tel.: +1 330 972-6976; Fax: +1 330 374-8834; E-mail:
[email protected].
Abstract: Experiments have been performed with the aim of optimizing the image
quality parameters of CdZnTe detectors for digital mammography. A geometrical
breast phantom has been designed, and the dependence of the contrast resolution
of a planar CdZnTe detector on the phantom thickness has been experimentally
determined. Specifically, the detected signal and noise contributions were
measured and related to phantom thickness. The results of this study indicate
that the CdZnTe detectors exhibit a high contrast resolution. On the other
hand, the dynamic range of this detector can be improved significantly by
further implementation of the data acquisition electronics.
