Impact of dopants on X‑ray attenuation of 3D‑printed polymers for mammography and tomosynthesis spectra
Abstract
Background: 3D-printing enables the production of anthropomorphic breast phantoms for assessing image quality in digital mammography (DM) and breast tomosynthesis (DBT). 3D-printing materials must be selected carefully to mimic breast tissue attenuation for clinical spectra.
Purpose: This study investigates the impact on the effective X-ray attenuation coefficient (µeff) of polymer formulation and dopants (e.g., colorants) used in 3D-printing materials. It also analyses the impact on their equivalent glandular ratios (BR) relative to commercial materials (CIRS).
Methods: Five base polymers (PLA, ABS, PETG, HIPS, RESIN) were selected among the catalogue of five manufacturers. A collection of nineteen variants (base polymer + color) was 3D-printed as step-wedges with thicknesses (t) from 0.5 to 5.5 cm and imaged on a clinical mammography system (DM: W/Rh with the anti-scatter grid, DBT: W/Al without grid, at 27, 29 and 31 kVp). The µeff(t) values were derived from the mean pixel value measured at each step of the logarithmically transformed images. As reference, µeff values were measured for the CIRS materials with well-known BR. A two-parameter empirical model was used to fit the values as: µeff(t) = µ0 /(1+kt), where µ0 corresponds to µeff at thickness tending to zero, and k is the decrease rate with thickness due to beam hardening and scatter. The impact of dopants on polymer attenuation was evaluated by analyzing both µeff and µ0 values. Based on µ0-BR relationships of…
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