The Medical Physics and Engineering Group's research is focused on creating and optimizing new methods of imaging the breast that take advantage of the introduction of digital detectors for mammography. Among the research being performed in the lab are tomographic and contrast-enhanced breast imaging techniques. The lab environment is dynamic, where new ideas and risk-taking in research are highly encouraged. Expertise within the group includes experimental diagnostic medical physics, physical and perceptual evaluation of image quality, radiation dosimetry, computational methods (Monte Carlo and analytical), image reconstruction and characterization of the imaging performance of nanoscale contrast agents for the early detection of cancer.
The laboratory is located in the new building of the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in close proximity to the breast imaging section and the outpatient imaging center of the Emory Clinic. The location and physical layout of the lab is ideal for research in medical imaging. The laboratory is equipped with a clinical prototype digital mammography system and a experimental digital radiography system. A dedicated viewing room is also available with two mammographic five megapixel flat panel displays. Other resources include several high performance workstations, desktop computers, computational and imaging software such as IDL, ImagePro, Geant4, etc., and electronic testing equipment. The lab communicates with a 1,024 processor high performance cluster computing system, a shared resource at Emory University. An investigational device (non-FDA approved) dedicated breast CT system will be operational in the laboratory in mid-2008.
Analytical and computational approaches for the development and optimization of digital tomosynthesis imaging of the breast
Purpose: The introduction of breast tomosynthesis imaging in the clinical environment requires comprehensive optimization studies to maximize image quality. Our group is using advanced simulation methods and the computing power available at Emory University to study how to obtain the highest quality reconstructions while limiting the radiation dose to the breast.
Investigation of nanoscale contrast agents for the early detection of breast cancer
(Collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology)
Purpose: The study is aimed at the adaptation of nanoparticle-based contrast agents for increasing the sensitivity of breast cancer detection, for delineating tumor margins, and to determine effectiveness of therapy.
Computational and experimental approaches for radiation dosimetry in mammography, tomographic breast imaging and other x-ray imaging applications
Purpose: The emergence of new x-ray imaging techniques through digital technologies, particularly those that require multiple views for tomographic imaging prompts careful assessment of the radiation dose to target and other tissues. Our group has developed a detailed methodology for the estimation of dose from tomosynthesis and computed tomography of the breast.
Analytical, computational and experimental approaches for the development of dedicated computed tomography of the breast
Purpose: Our laboratory is one of the few in the world working on the adaptation of computed tomography technology for 3D imaging of the breast. Clinical feasibility trials are planned to start in early 2008.
Farrington Daniels Award
Ioannis Sechopoulos, PhD, Assistant Professor of Radiology
The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) has selected Dr. Sechopoulos as the recipient of the Farrington Daniels Award for one of the best papers on radiation dosimetry. The featured paper was published by Medical Physics in 2007: "Computation of the glandular radiation dose in digital tomosynthesis of the breast". (Medical Physics 34, Number 1/221, 2007)
Sechopoulos I, Suryanarayanan S, Vedantham S, D'Orsi CJ, Karellas A. Monte Carlo and Phantom Study of the Radiation Dose to the Body from Dedicated CT of the Breast Radiology 2008; 10.1148/radiol.2471071080.
Sechopoulos I, Suryanarayanan S, Vedantham S, D'Orsi CJ, Karellas A. Radiation Dose to Organs and Tissues from Mammography: Monte Carlo and Phantom Study. Radiology 2008; 246: 434-443.
The article Radiation Dose to Organs and Tissues from Mammography: Monte Carlo and Phantom Study inspired HeathNewsDigest.com to post an article in the Women's Health section, increasing radiation education as it applies to the overall amount of radiation mammograms deliver to the entire body and to the fetus when pregnant women undergo mammography. The article goes on to explain how a three-dimensional virtual human and Emory's new High Performance Computing Cluster aided the collection of data.
To view this article click here.
Sechopoulos I, Suryanarayanan S, Vedantham S, D'Orsi CJ, Karellas A. Computation of the glandular radiation dose in digital tomosynthesis of the breast. Medical Physics 2007; 34: 221-232.
Sechopoulos I, Suryanarayanan S, Vedantham S, D'Orsi CJ, Karellas A. Scatter radiation in digital tomosynthesis of the breast. Medical Physics 2007; 34: 564-576.
Ioannis Sechopoulos, PhD
Carl J. D'Orsi, MD
Linda Burr, Research Project Coordinator
Phone: 404-712-5809
E-mail: lburr@emory.edu