Assessment of Tube Voltage and Current-Time Product in Digital Mammography: Effects on Image Quality Parameters

This study evaluated tube voltage and current-time product in digital mammography, analyzing their effects on image quality. A Piranha 657 multiparametric meter and a breast phantom were used. The accuracy and reproducibility of tube voltage were evaluated to ensure that the equipment operated within voltage limits. Quantitative analysis of image quality used MATLAB to calculate the mean, standard deviation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and structural similarity index (SSIM) for images acquired at 33 kV and 35 kV. The results indicated that a 6.06% increase in tube voltage did not cause significant variations in the mean, standard deviation, or SNR. The accuracy and reproducibility tests were considered satisfactory, meeting the requirements of IN 92. The study concluded that quality control is crucial for image safety and quality, and that increasing the tube voltage, even within regulatory limits, did not significantly improve image quality and increased the radiation dose. Computational methods such as SNR and SSIM provide a valuable quantitative approach to radiological practice.