Breast biopsy and needle localization using tomosynthesis systems
Methods, devices, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for performing mammography, such as utilizing tomosynthesis in combination with breast biopsy.
1. A method for needle localization for breast biopsy, said method comprising:
performing a tomosynthesis scan of a patient's breast using a source of an imaging x-ray beam that moves through a multiplicity of imaging positions along a source trajectory, and obtaining image data from the tomosynthesis scan and deriving therefrom tomosynthesis reconstructed images representing respective slices of the breast;
displaying at least some of the tomosynthesis reconstructed images of the patient's breast;
receiving an indication on at least one of the tomosynthesis reconstructed images of an area of interest within the patient's breast, and determining therefrom three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;
positioning a biopsy needle based on the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;
emitting a verification x-ray beam from the source at a plurality of verification x-ray positions each disposed at an orientation to the biopsy needle and breast so as to verify the position of the biopsy needle relative to the area of interest or to verify that tissue located at the area of interest has been removed, and
reducing image artifacts due to the presence of the biopsy needle or other radiopaque materials.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of verification imaging positions are disposed along a verification imaging trajectory.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the verification imaging trajectory is disposed asymmetrically to the biopsy needle.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein emitting the verification x-ray beam from the source at the plurality of verification imaging positions comprises emitting a first x-ray beam on a first side of the biopsy needle and emitting a second x-ray beam on a second side of the biopsy needle.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopsy needle is positioned in a pre-fire position prior to emission of the verification x-ray beam.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopsy needle is positioned in a post-fire position prior to the emission of the verification x-ray beam.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a dose of the verification x-ray beam is different than a dose of the imaging x-ray beam.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a dose of the verification x-ray beam is the same as a dose of the imaging x-ray beam.
9. A method for needle localization for breast biopsy, the method comprising:
compressing a patient's breast between a support plate and a compression paddle, wherein the breast is disposed between an x-ray source and an x-ray receptor;
providing a biopsy stage comprising a biopsy needle;
positioning the biopsy stage proximate the breast;
performing an imaging scan of the breast using the x-ray source that moves through a plurality of potential imaging positions along a source trajectory, and emitting an x-ray from the x-ray source at a non-interfered imaging position of the plurality of potential imaging positions, wherein at the non-interfered imaging position, the biopsy stage is disposed so as to not form a shadow in an area of interest;
obtaining image data at the x-ray receptor from the imaging scan; and
displaying the position of the biopsy needle.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-interfered imaging position is disposed on either side of the biopsy needle.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein an interfered position range is disposed between the non-interfered imaging positions.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-interfered imaging position is disposed on a single side of the biopsy needle.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving a marker associated with a region of interest prior to performing the imaging scan.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the imaging scan is a tomosynthesis imaging scan.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning the biopsy stage proximate the breast comprises positioning the biopsy needle within the breast.
16. A method for needle localization for breast biopsy, said method comprising:
positioning a biopsy needle in a patient's breast based at least in part on three-dimensional coordinates of an area of interest;
performing a tomosynthesis scan of the breast using a source of an imaging x-ray beam that moves through a plurality of imaging positions along a source trajectory, wherein the plurality of imaging positions comprise interfered positions where image data includes an artifact of the biopsy needle and non-interfered positions where image data does not include the artifact of the biopsy needle; and
processing the image data obtained from both the interfered and non-interfered positions to obtain from the image data (i) tomosynthesis projection images of the breast taken from more than two of the imaging positions of the source relative to the breast and (ii) tomosynthesis reconstructed slice images representing respective slices of the breast, wherein processing the image data comprises reducing an appearance of the artifacts of the biopsy needle in the tomosynthesis projection images and the tomosynthesis reconstructed slice images.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein processing the image data comprises identifying the artifact in at least one of the tomosynthesis projection images and the tomosynthesis reconstructed slice images.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising displaying a subset of the tomosynthesis projection images and the tomosynthesis reconstructed slice images.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the subset includes the tomosynthesis projection images and the tomosynthesis reconstructed slice images that do not include the artifact.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein processing the image data comprises performing at least one of an artifact suppression algorithm and an artifact reduction algorithm on the image data.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the tomosynthesis reconstructed slice images are reconstructed from the tomosynthesis projection images, and wherein processing the image data comprises eliminating from the reconstruction tomosynthesis projection images containing the artifact.
22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising eliminating from subsequent display at least one of the tomosynthesis projection images and the tomosynthesis reconstructed slice images that include the artifact.