Application feasibility of median modified Wiener filter (MMWF) algorithm for customized breast ACR phantom images using 3D printing technology in mammography

Abstract

The median modified Wiener filter (MMWF) algorithm, which is a combination of median and Wiener filters, was applied to reduce the noise signal contained in digital image systems. In this study, we investigated the effect of MMWF algorithm with mask sizes of 3 × 3, 5 × 5, 7 × 7, and 9 × 9 and compared it to the median and Wiener filters with a breast American College of Radiology (ACR) phantom designed using 3D printing technology. To compare the similarity between the conventional and 3D printed breast ACR phantoms at various tube voltages and tube currents, the peak signal-to-noise (PSNR) ratio was recorded. Then, the noise level of the mammographic X-ray image applied with the MMWF algorithm using various mask sizes and the conventional filtering methods were compared and evaluated. According to the results, when the MMWF algorithm using a mask size of 9 × 9 was applied to the X-ray phantom image, superior signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and coefficient of variation (COV) values were derived. In addition, by comparing the average values obtained using the conventional noise reduction methods, we confirmed that the SNR, CNR, and COV values obtained from the MMWF algorithm, using a 9 × 9 mask size, improved by 1.91, 2.29, and 4.77 times, respectively. In conclusion, applicability of the mammographic X-ray field after ACR phantom production using 3D printing technology was proven in this study. An optimal mask size of 9 × 9 for the MMWF algorithm was proposed for improving the image quality of the acquired image. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.