PurposeWe characterize the flying focal spot (FFS) technology in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), designed to overcome source motion blurring. ApproachA wide-angle DBT system with continuous gantry and focus motion (“uncompensated focus”) and a system with FFS were compared for image sharpness and lesion detectability. The modulation transfer function (MTF) was assessed as a function of height in the projections and reconstructed images, along with lesion detectability using the contrast detail phantom for mammography (CDMAM) and the L1 phantom. ResultsFor the uncompensated focus system, the spatial frequency for 25% MTF value (f25%) measured at 2, 4, and 6 cm in DBT projections fell by 35%, 49%, and 59%, respectively in the tube-travel direction compared with the FFS system. There was no significant difference in f25% for the front-back and tube-travel directions for the FFS unit. The in-plane MTF in the tube-travel direction also improved with the FFS technology. The threshold gold thickness (Tt) for the 0.16-mm diameter discs of contrast detail phantom for mammography (CDMAM) improved for the FFS system in DBT mode, especially at greater heights above the table; Tt at 45 and 65 mm improved by 16% and 24%, respectively, compared with the uncompensated focus system. In addition, improvements in calcification and mass detection in a structured background were observed for DBT and synthetic mammography. The FFS system demonstrated faster scan times (4.8 s versus 21.7 s), potentially reducing patient motion artifacts. ConclusionsThe FFS technology offers isotropic resolution, improved small detail detectability, and faster scan times in DBT mode compared with the traditional continuous gantry and focus motion approach.
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