LUMINESCENT SCREENS FOR MAMMOGRAPHY

The problem of the choice of a luminescent screen for screen-film and digital mammography is considered. It is shown that high efficiency ph osphors must be used in both cases. By comparing the quantum noise and the threshold contrast of a human eye an upper limit for the sensitiv ity of an imaging system is determined. It is also demonstrated that d igital mammography systems, based either on CCD detectors or on storag e phosphors, do not allow for essential reduction of the X-ray dose.