Early Breast Cancer Detection with Fiberoptic-CMOS Detector
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: This proposal seeks to develop an x-ray detector that can dramatically improve image quality, particularly for those situations where the breast characteristics result in mammograms with poor diagnostic information. Earlier and more sensitive detection of breast cancer can lead to a significant reduction in human and economic costs associated with this disease. When breast cancer is found at an early stage before spreading to other parts of the body, treatment most often consists of a simple surgical removal ("Lumpectomy"), and the patient’s outlook for survival is at its best. Presently, x-ray mammography screening is the most efficient method available to detect small breast cancers at the early stages of growth. However, improvements are needed in the detector technology to enhance the quality of the x-ray images so that the radiologist can confidently detect even smaller cancers. The increased attention that breast cancer has received over the last decade has prompted intense efforts in the development of new machines (digital mammographic systems) capable of producing better x-ray images. In conventional x-ray detectors using a film detector, not all of the incident x-rays are used to make the image. This is because certain parts of the detector must be made very thin to maintain a sharp image. A higher radiation exposure is therefore required to produce a useful image. Also, it is easy to under- or over-expose the film during the procedure, which often requires the procedure to be repeated. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The first phase of this research will investigate a new type of detector called a "fiberoptic scintillator" just recently made available. These detectors have a unique capability of producing light from X-rays and channeling the light
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 down a "light-pipe" to an image camera. Even with a thick detector that can capture all of the X-rays, the fibers maintain the image detail. Because the fiber detector absorbs nearly all of the X-rays, the radiation dose can be lowered in many instances compared to the standard x-ray film procedure. The second phase of this research will investigate a new digital image camera called a "CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor)-Active Pixel Sensor (APS) photodetector array" that captures the light image and converts it to a digital image that can be displayed on a computer monitor. What is exciting about this device is that large areas can be manufactured, and it is likely to be lower in cost compared to other types of digital cameras. The large area of both the fiber detector and the digital camera will allow a large area direct capture device to be constructed for mammography. In addition, the digital camera has a much larger tolerance for variations in light exposure than does x-ray film, which reduces the need for x-ray retakes. Finally, because the output image is stored in a computer, image processing routines can be developed and applied to the image in order to enhance and improve the detection of breast cancers that might otherwise not be seen by the radiologist. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In summary, this proposal has as its primary goal the development and testing of a "fiberoptic scintillator-CMOS-APS photodetector array" that is better than conventional x-ray mammography detectors. We hope to demonstrate that the proposed fiberoptic-CMOS detector can significantly outperform the detectors used conventionally, such that breast cancers can be detected at an earlier stage of development. Hopefully these results will lead to the earlier availability of the technology from the manufacturers of mammography systems so that all women can receive the benefits of earlier detection.