Comparison of two novel FFDM systems with different a-se detector technology: physical characterization and phantom contrast detail evaluation in clinical conditions

Two new full field digital mammography (FFDM) equipments are compared, Fujifilm Amulet and Siemens Mammomat Inspiration The systems are identical apart from the detector Both use a-Se for photon conversion, but differ in detector readout technology: innovative photoconductive switching readout in the first system (pixel pitch 50 μm) and conventional a-Si TFT-matrix readout in the second (pixel pitch 85 μm) Comparison of the physical characteristics in terms of MTF, NNPS and DQE gives similar results for peak-DQE (both > 70% for Mo/Mo anode/target combination at 120 μGy detector entrance kermaair), but a slower DQE decline at higher frequencies in the first system Image quality assessment was based on contrast to noise (CNR) measurement and automated contrast detail (CD) curve analysis (phantom CDMAM ver 3.4 and CDMAM Analyser ver 1.1, both Artinis) It revealed a superior performance of the new detector equivalent to an average glandular dose (AGD) reduction comprised between 8% and 28% at equal image quality.