Single photon detection for ultra-low dose Molecular Breast Imaging

用于超低剂量分子乳腺成像的单光子检测

• 批准号: 10032607
• 金额: $ 38.08万
• 依托单位: KROMEK LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Collaborative R&D
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10032607
• 关键词: Single; photon; detection; ultra; low

Breast screening was introduced in the UK almost 30 years ago and relies principally on x-ray mammography. This technique is effective where there is a significant difference in the density of a cancer tumor and the surrounding breast tissue. Around a third of women have denser breast tissue, such that mammography is unable to clearly image tumors, resulting in undiagnosed cancers. The age for breast screening is gradually extending from 50-70 to 47-73\. As there is a higher prevalence of dense breasts in younger women, the current provision of mammography even less satisfactory.Kromek has identified that earlier diagnosis of breast cancers is possible with an addition of a nuclear imaging technology, Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), as a primary screening tool for women with dense breast tissue. MBI is a technique whereby a radioactive tracer is used to identify a tumor that is then imaged by a specialist camera. The tracer is concentrated to a much greater extent in malignant breast tissue compared to normal tissue, therefore the malignant tissue shows up as a bright area on the image. MBI currently has the disadvantage of requiring a higher radiation dose than received with a mammogram and longer measurement time.Since 2018, Kromek has been engaged with UCL and NUTH in developing a quantum technology for a faster and safer MBI system addressing these shortcomings and facilitating a change in the screening pathways. Kromek has developed a proprietary MBI camera design based on a new generation of single photon CZT detectors and a conceptually new type of collimator. Combined with novel 3D image reconstruction methods, the new camera will allow uncovering spatial information about tumours and their structure. That information will help to significantly increase chances for early cancer detection and improve cancer staging process required for precise diagnostics and successful treatment prescription.The project will contribute towards the commercialisation of the low-dose quantum technology by proving the feasibility of he single-photon detection methodology for MBI.

大约30年前在英国进行了乳房筛查，主要依靠X射线乳房X线摄影。在癌症肿瘤和周围乳腺组织的密度显着差异的情况下，该技术是有效的。大约三分之一的女性患有密集的乳房组织，因此乳房X线摄影无法清楚地对肿瘤进行形象，导致未诊断的癌症。乳房筛查的年龄逐渐从50-70延长到47-73 \。由于年轻女性的乳房浓密患病率较高，因此乳房X线摄影的提供甚至不那么令人满意。Kromek已确定，由于添加核成像技术，分子乳房成像（MBI），可以诊断乳腺癌的较早诊断，这是对妇女乳房组织致密的主要筛查工具。 MBI是一种使用放射性示踪剂来识别肿瘤，然后由专用摄像头对肿瘤进行成像。与正常组织相比，在恶性乳房组织中，示踪剂的浓缩程度要大得多，因此，恶性组织显示为图像上的明亮区域。 MBI目前的缺点是，需要使用乳房X线照片和更长的测量时间收到的辐射剂量更高。2018年，Kromek与UCL和NUTH互动，从而开发了量子技术，以解决更快，更安全的MBI系统，以解决这些缺点，并促进筛选途径的变化。 Kromek基于新一代的单个光子CZT探测器和概念上新型的准直仪，开发了专有的MBI相机设计。结合新型3D图像重建方法，新相机将允许发现有关肿瘤及其结构的空间信息。该信息将有助于显着增加早期癌症检测的机会，并改善精确诊断和成功治疗处方所需的癌症分期。该项目将通过证明MBI单光子检测方法的可行性来有助于低剂量量子技术的商业化。