Scatter rejection in scanned multi-slit digital mammography

Measurements and Monte Carlo simulations were used to investigate the scatter properties of a scanned multi-slit digital mammography system. Scatter to primary ratio (S/P) in the center of the image field was calculated for different thickness of breast equivalent material and different tube potentials. The simulated model also varied the angular acceptance, the number of slits and the distance between the slits of a dedicated scatter rejection device. In addition to the expected scatter from the breast equivalent material, scatter within the detector contributes to the S/P-ratio. The main part of the scatter is identified as coming from this process. Measured total S/P-ratios below 3% are reported for breast range 3 - 8 cm. The scatter-DQE is used as figure-of-merit for comparison to other imaging geometries and scatter rejection schemes.