There are several research projects underway in my laboratory, focusing on the improvement of diagnostic accuracy in digital chest radiography and digital mammography. The first project uses a dual-energy digital radiography technique that forms images which have either the bones or soft-tissues canceled. By eliminating the ribs in the soft-tissue image, better accuracy in detecting nodules has been demonstrated in early clinical evaluations of the technique. The bone image is also useful in that it demonstrates whether a detected nodule is calcified, at a fraction of the cost and radiation exposure of sending the patient to CT. We have received six years of NIH grant funding to develop a practical screening method for nodular disease using the dual-energy technique.

A second major area of research is digital tomosynthesis. This technique allows longitudinal slice images of a patient to be generated from a series of projection images taken at different angles. We are evaluating this technique for its potential to improve detection of pulmonary nodules. We have received seven years of NIH funding to develop and evaluate this technique. Most recently, we have demonstrated that our tomosynthesis method was able to improve the visibility of a 7 mm nodule (true cancer) relative to a conventional PA film, while also demonstrating that a suspicious opacity was really a vessel crossing. Further preliminary evaluation in a pilot study using human subjects revealed that the detection rate for pulmonary nodules increased from about 50% to 80% in tomosynthesis slice images compared with conventional PA chest radiographs. Thus, the tomosynthesis technique would appear to hold promise as a method of improving both sensitivity and specificity of pulmonary nodule detection in vivo. We are also expanding this tomosynthesis work to evaluate its potential for improving detection of masses and calcifications in digital mammograms.

Other projects include theoretical analysis of digital imaging performance and the measurement of image quality (DQE) in computed radiography and flat-panel systems.

Hsu CM, Palmeri ML, Segars WP, Veress AI, Dobbins JT 3rd. An analysis of the mechanical parameters used for finite element compression of a high-resolution 3D breast phantom. Med Phys. 2011 Oct;38(10):5756-70. Abstract

Samei E, Majdi-Nasab N, Dobbins JT 3rd, McAdams HP. Biplane Correlation Imaging: A Feasibility Study Based on Phantom and Human Data. J Digit Imaging. 2011 May 27. Abstract

Samei E, Ranger NT, Dobbins JT, Ravin CE. Effective dose efficiency: an application-specific metric of quality and dose for digital radiography. Phys Med Biol. 2011 Aug 21;56(16):5099-118. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, McAdams HP. Digital tomosynthesis. In Advances in Medical Physics 2010. Wolbarst AB, Mossman KL, Hendee WR (eds). Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, Wisconsin, 2010 (in press)

Dobbins JT 3rd, McAdams HP. Chest tomosynthesis: technical principles and clinical update. Eur J Radiol. 2009 Nov;72(2):244-51. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd. Tomosynthesis imaging: at a translational crossroads. Med Phys. 2009 Jun;36(6):1956-67. Abstract

Godfrey DJ, McAdams HP, Dobbins JT. Stochastic noise characteristics in matrix inversion tomosynthesis (MITS). Med Phys. 2009 May;36(5):1521-32. Abstract

Li CM, Segars WP, Lo JY, Veress AI, Boone JM, Dobbins JT 3rd. Computerized 3D breast phantom with enhanced high-resolution detail. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 2009;7258:0S1-OS8.

Li CM, Segars WP, Tourassi GD, Boone JM, Dobbins JT 3rd. Methodology for generating a 3D computerized breast phantom from empirical data. Med Phys. 2009 Jul;36(7):3122-31. Abstract

Samei E, Ranger NT, MacKenzie A, Honey ID, Dobbins JT 3rd, Ravin CE. Effective DQE (eDQE) and speed of digital radiographic systems: an experimental methodology. Med Phys. 2009 Aug;36(8):3806-17. Abstract

Chen Y, Lo JY, Dobbins JT 3rd. Impulse response and modulation transfer function analysis for shift-and-add and back projection image reconstruction algorithms in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). Int. J. of Functional Informatics and Personalised Medicine. 2008;1(2):189-204.

Dobbins JT 3rd, McAdams HP, Godfrey DJ, Li CM. Digital tomosynthesis of the chest. J Thorac Imaging. 2008 May;23(2):86-92. Abstract

Dobbins JT III, McAdams HP, Song JW, Li CM, Godfrey DJ, DeLong DM, Paik SH, Martinez-Jimenez S. Digital tomosynthesis of the chest for lung nodule detection: interim sensitivity results from an ongoing NIH-sponsored trial. Med Phys. 2008 Jun;35(6):2554-7. Abstract

Li CM, Segars WP, Lo JY, Veress AI, Boone JM, Dobbins JT 3rd. Three-dimensional computer generated breast phantom based on empirical data. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 2008;6913:14.1-14.8.

Samei E, Ranger NT, MacKenzie A, Honey ID, Dobbins JT 3rd, Ravin CE. Detector or system? Extending the concept of detective quantum efficiency to characterize the performance of digital radiographic imaging systems. Radiology. 2008 Dec;249(3):926-37. Abstract

Chen Y, Lo JY, Dobbins JT 3rd. Importance of point-by-point back projection correction for isocentric motion in digital breast tomosynthesis: relevance to morphology of structures such as microcalcifications. Med Phys. 2007 Oct;34(10):3885-92. Abstract

Ranger NT, Samei E, Dobbins JT 3rd, Ravin CE. Assessment of detective quantum efficiency: intercomparison of a recently introduced international standard with prior methods. Radiology. 2007 Jun;243(3):785-95. Abstract

Samei E, Stebbins SA, Dobbins JT 3rd, McAdams HP, Lo JY. Multiprojection correlation imaging for improved detection of pulmonary nodules. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007 May;188(5):1239-45. Abstract

Chen Y, Lo JY, Baker JA, Dobbins JT 3rd. Gaussian frequency blending algorithm with matrix inversion tomosynthesis (MITS) and filtered back projection (FBP) for better digital breast tomosynthesis reconstruction. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 2006;6142:0E1-0E9.

Dobbins JT 3rd, Samei E, Ranger NT, Chen Y. Intercomparison of methods for image quality characterization. II. Noise power spectrum. Med Phys. 2006 May;33(5):1466-75. Abstract

Godfrey DJ, McAdams HP, Dobbins JT 3rd. Optimization of the matrix inversion tomosynthesis (MITS) impulse response and modulation transfer function characteristics for chest imaging. Med Phys. 2006 Mar;33(3):655-67. Abstract

McAdams HP, Samei E, Dobbins J 3rd, Tourassi GD, Ravin CE. Recent advances in chest radiography. Radiology. 2006 Dec;241(3):663-83. Abstract

Samei E, Ranger NT, Dobbins JT 3rd, Chen Y. Intercomparison of methods for image quality characterization. I. Modulation transfer function. Med Phys. 2006 May;33(5):1454-65. Abstract

Baydush AH, Godfrey DJ, Oldham M, Dobbins JT III: Initial application of digital tomosynthesis with on-board imaging in radiation oncology. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Symposium. 2005;5745:1300-1305.

Bissonnette M, Hansroul M, Masson E, Savard S, Cadieux S, Warmoes P, Gravel D, Agopyan J, Polischuk B, Haerer W, Mertelmeier T, Lo JY, Chen Y, Dobbins JT III, Jesneck JL and Singh S: Digital breast tomosynthesis using an amorphous selenium flat panel detector. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Symposium. 2005;5745:529-540.

Chen Y, Dobbins JT III: Impulse response analysis for several digital tomosynthesis mammography reconstruction algorithms. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Symposium. 2005;5745:541-549.

Samei E, Saunders RS, Lo JY, Dobbins JT 3rd, Jesneck JL, Floyd CE, Ravin CE. Fundamental imaging characteristics of a slot-scan digital chest radiographic system. Med Phys. 2004 Sep;31(9):2687-98. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Godfrey DJ, McAdams HP. Chest tomosynthesis. In Advances in Digital Radiography: RSNA Categorical course in Digital Radiography, Samei E, Flynn MJ (eds), Radiological Society of North America, Oak Brook, Illinois, 2003.

Dobbins JT 3rd, Godfrey DJ. Digital x-ray tomosynthesis: current state of the art and clinical potential. Phys Med Biol. 2003 Oct 7;48(19):R65-106. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Samei E, Chotas HG, Warp RJ, Baydush AH, Floyd CE Jr, Ravin CE. Chest radiography: optimization of X-ray spectrum for cesium iodide-amorphous silicon flat-panel detector. Radiology. 2003 Jan;226(1):221-30. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Warp RJ. Dual-energy methods for tissue discrimination in chest radiography. In Advances in Digital Radiography: RSNA Categorical course in Digital Radiography, Samei E, Flynn MJ (eds), Radiological Society of North America, Oak Brook, Illinois, 2003.

Duryea J, Dobbins JT 3rd, Lynch JA. Digital tomosynthesis of hand joints for arthritis assessment. Med Phys. 2003 Mar;30(3):325-33. Abstract

Godfrey DJ, Rader A, Dobbins JT 3rd. Practical strategies for the clinical implementation of matrix inversion tomosynthesis. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Symposium. 2003;5030:379-390.

Maidment ADA, Albert M, Bunch PC, Cunningham IA, Dobbins JT 3rd, Gagne RM, Nishikawa RM, Wagner RF, Van Metter RL. Standardization of NPS measurement: interim report of AAPM TG16. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Symposium. 2003;5030:523-532.

Nicolas FS, Rader AE, Barber MJ, Dobbins JT 3rd. System and method for synchronization of the acquisition of images with the cardiac cycle for dual energy imaging. U.S. Patent # 6,643,536, 2003. Assignees: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company and Duke University.

Vyborny C, Bunch P, Chotas J, Dobbins J, Niklason L, Schaefer-Prokop C. Image quality in chest radiography. Report #70 of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU). Journal of the ICRU. 2003;3(2):1-176.

Warp RJ, Dobbins JT 3rd. Quantitative evaluation of noise reduction strategies in dual-energy imaging. Med Phys. 2003 Feb;30(2):190-8. Abstract

Duryea J, Dobbins JT 3rd. Application of digital tomosynthesis to hand radiography for arthritis assessment. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 2001;4320:688-695.

Floyd CE Jr, Warp RJ, Dobbins JT 3rd, Chotas HG, Baydush AH, Vargas-Voracek R, Ravin CE. Imaging characteristics of an amorphous silicon flat-panel detector for digital chest radiography. Radiology. 2001 Mar;218(3):683-8. Abstract

Godfrey DJ, Warp RJ, Dobbins JT 3rd. Optimization of Matrix Inversion Tomosynthesis. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 2001;4320:696-704.

Sabol JM, Avinash, GB, Nicolas F, Claus B, Zhao J, Dobbins JT 3rd. Development and characterization of a dual-energy subtraction imaging system for chest radiography based on CsI:Tl amorphous silicon flat-panel technology. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 2001;4320:399-408.

Samei EJ, Flynn MJ, Chotas HG, Dobbins JT 3rd. DQE of direct and indirect digital radiography systems. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 2001;4320:189-197.

Dobbins JT 3rd, Boone JM (eds). Medical Imaging 2000: Physics of Medical Imaging, SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 2000.

Dobbins JT 3rd. Image quality metrics for digital systems. In Handbook of Medical Imaging, Vol. 1, Van Metter RL, Beutel J, Kundel H (eds), SPIE Press, Bellingham, WA, 2000.

Warp RJ, Godfrey DG, Dobbins JT 3rd. Applications of Matrix Inverse Tomosynthesis. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 2000;3977:376-383.

Boone JM, Dobbins JT 3rd (eds). Medical Imaging 1999: Physics of Medical Imaging, SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999.

Bradford CD, Peppler WW, Dobbins JT 3rd. Performance characteristics of a Kodak computed radiography system. Med Phys. 1999 Jan;26(1):27-37. Abstract

Chotas HG, Dobbins JT 3rd, Ravin CE. Principles of digital radiography with large-area, electronically readable detectors: a review of the basics. Radiology. 1999 Mar;210(3):595-9. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Boone JM (eds). Medical Imaging 1998: Physics of Medical Imaging, SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1998.

Dobbins JT 3rd, Hames SM, Haseqawa BH, Degrado TR, Zagzebski JA, Frayne R. Medical imaging. In Measurement, Instrumentation and Sensors Handbook, Webster JG (ed), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1998.

Althof RJ, Wind MG, Dobbins JT 3rd. A rapid and automatic image registration algorithm with subpixel accuracy. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 1997 Jun;16(3):308-16. Abstract

Hinshaw DA, Dobbins JT 3rd. Plate scatter correction for improved performance in dual-energy imaging. Med Phys. 1996 Jun;23(6):871-6. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Ergun DL, Rutz L, Hinshaw DA, Blume H, Clark DC. DQE(f) of four generations of computed radiography acquisition devices. Med Phys. 1995 Oct;22(10):1581-93. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd. Effects of undersampling on the proper interpretation of modulation transfer function, noise power spectra, and noise equivalent quanta of digital imaging systems. Med Phys. 1995 Feb;22(2):171-81. Abstract

Hinshaw DA, Dobbins JT 3rd. Recent progress in noise reduction and scatter correction in dual-energy imaging. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 1995 Feb;2432:134-142.

Ergun DL, Peppler WW, Dobbins JT 3rd, Zink FE, Kruger DG, Kelcz F, de Bruijn FJ, Bellers EW, Wang Y, Althof RJ, Wind MGJ. Dual-energy computed radiography: improvements in processing. Proc. SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. 1994 Feb;2167:663-671.

Chotas HG, Floyd CE Jr, Dobbins JT 3rd, Ravin CE. Digital chest radiography with photostimulable storage phosphors: signal-to-noise ratio as a function of kilovoltage with matched exposure risk. Radiology. 1993 Feb;186(2):395-8. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Rice JJ, Goodman PC, Patz EF Jr, Ravin CE. Variable compensation chest radiography performed with a computed radiography system: design considerations and initial clinical experience. Radiology. 1993 Apr;187(1):55-63. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Chotas HG, Benveniste H. Direct digitization of optical images using a photostimulable phosphor system. Med Phys. 1992;19(4):1071-80. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Rice JJ, Beam CA, Ravin CE. Threshold perception performance with computed and screen-film radiography: implications for chest radiography. Radiology. 1992 Apr;183(1):179-87. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd. Variable compensation method and apparatus for radiological images (continuation in part). U.S. Patent #5,081,659. January, 1992. Assignee: Duke University.

Chotas HG, Dobbins JT 3rd, Floyd CE Jr, Ravin CE. Single-exposure conventional and computed radiography image acquisition. Invest Radiol. 1991 May;26(5):438-45. Abstract

Chotas HG, Floyd CE Jr, Dobbins JT 3rd, Lo JY, Ravin CE. Scatter fractions in AMBER imaging. Radiology. 1990 Dec;177(3):879-80. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd. Matrix Inversion Tomosynthesis improvements in longitudinal x-ray slice imaging. U.S. Patent #4,903,204, 1990. Assignee: Duke University.

Floyd CE Jr, Chotas HG, Dobbins JT 3rd, Ravin CE. Quantitative radiographic imaging using a photostimulable phosphor system. Med Phys. 1990;17(3):454-9. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd, Powell AO. Variable compensation technique for digital radiography of the chest. Radiology. 1989 Nov;173(2):451-8. Abstract

Dobbins JT 3rd. Variable Compensation method and apparatus for radiological images. U.S. Patent #4,868,857, Sept. 1989. Assignee: Duke University.

Dobbins JT 3rd, Powell AO. Characterization of variable compensation radiography of the chest. Proc. Chest Imaging Conference 1987, WW Peppler and AA Alter (eds.), pp. 144-154, 1987.

Hasegawa BH, Dobbins JT 3rd, Naimuddin S, Peppler WW, Mistretta CA. Geometrical properties of a digital beam attenuator system. Med Phys. 1987;14(3):314-21. Abstract

Sorenson JA, Dobbins JT 3rd. Techniques for chest radiography. Proc. Chest Imaging Conference 1987, WW Peppler and AA Alter (eds.), pp. 1-15, 1987.

Hasegawa BH, Naimuddin S, Dobbins JT 3rd, Mistretta CA, Peppler WW, Hangiandreou NJ, Cusma JT, McDermott JC, Kudva BV, Melbye KM. Digital beam attenuator technique for compensated chest radiography. Radiology. 1986 May;159(2):537-43. Abstract

Hasegawa BH, Naimuddin S, Dobbins JT 3rd, Mistretta CA, Peppler WW, Hangiandreou NJ, Cusma JT, McDermott JC. Chest radiography using patient-specific digitally-prepared compensating filters. Proc. SPIE Conference on Medical Imaging and Instrumentation. Vol. 555, April 1985.

Hasegawa BH, Naimuddin S, Dobbins JT 3rd, Peppler WW, Van Lysel MS, Cusma JT, Lancaster JC, Hoffman P, Lee CS, Molloi S, Mistretta CA, Kudva BV, Melbye KM. Design of a digital beam attenuator system for chest radiography. Proc. SPIE Conference on Applications of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XIII. Vol. 535, February 1985.

Lee CS, Peppler WW, Van Lysel MS, Cusma JT, Folts JD, Zarnstorff WC, Mistretta CA, Dobbins JT 3rd, Hasegawa BH, Naimuddin S, Molloi S, Hangiandreou N, Lancaster JC. Adaptive processing algorithms for intravenous digital subtraction coronary angiography. Proc. SPIE Conference on Applications of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XIII. Vol. 535, Feb. 1985.

Mistretta CA, Peppler WW, Hasegawa BH, Dobbins JT 3rd, Kudva BV. Digitally controlled x-ray beam attenuation method and apparatus. U.S. Patent #4,497,062, January 1985.

Dobbins JT 3rd, Pedersen PL, Mazess RB, Cameron JR, Hansen JL, Hefner LV. A scanning-slit x-ray videoabsorptiometric technique for bone mineral measurement. Med Phys. 1984;11(5):582-8. Abstract

Hasegawa BH, Dobbins JT 3rd, Peppler WW, Cusma JT, Kudva BV, Mistretta CA, Van Lysel MS, Lee CS, Naimuddin S, Lancaster JC, Melbye K. Feasibility of selective exposure radiography. Proc. SPIE Conference on Applications of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XII. 1984 Feb;454:271-78.

Mistretta CA, Van Lysel MS, Peppler W, Dobbins JT 3rd, Hasegawa B, Zarnstorff W, Lee CS, Naimuddin S, Myerowitz PD, Swanson D, Strother CM, Crummy AB, Sackett JF. Applicazioni attuali e aspetti tecnici della angiografia digitale. La Radiologia Medica 1984 Apr;70(4):177-84.

Crummy AB, Stieghorst MF, Van Lysel MS, Dobbins JT 3rd. Advances in diagnosis: applying digital subtraction arteriography. J Cardiovascular Med. 1983 Mar;8(3):345-62.

Dobbins JT 3rd, Van Lysel MS, Hasegawa BH, Peppler WW, Mistretta CA. Spatial frequency filtering in digital subtraction angiography (DSA) by real-time digital video convolution. Proc. SPIE Conference on Applications of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XI. 1983 Apr;419:111-21.

Hasegawa BH, Dobbins JT 3rd, Peppler WW, Kudva BV, Melbye K, Van Lysel MS, Lee CS, Naimuddin S, Lancaster JC, Mistretta CA. Selective exposure radiography using digitally-formed x-ray beam attenuators. Proc. SPIE Conference on Applications of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XI. 1983 Apr;419:282-88.

Mistretta CA, Peppler WW, Van Lysel M, Dobbins JT 3rd, Hasegawa B, Myerowitz PD, Swanson D, Lee CS, Naimuddin S, Zarnstorff W, Crummy AB, Strother CM, Sackett JF. Recent advances in digital radiography. Annales de Radiologie 1983 Nov;26(7):537-42.

Peppler WW, Van Lysel MS, Dobbins JT 3rd, Lancaster JC, Hicks J, Hasegawa BH, Lee CS, Shaikh N, Zarnstorff WC, Mistretta CA, Myerowitz PD, Swanson DK. Progress report on the University of Wisconsin digital video image processor (DVIP II). Digital Imaging in Cardiovascular Radiology, Heintzen PH and Brennecke R (eds), Georg Theime Verlag, Stuttgart, 1983.

Swanson DK, Myerowitz PD, Hasegawa B, Van Lysel MS, Watson KM, Frantz DW, Banaszak S, Hausman-Stokes E, Peppler WW, Dobbins JT 3rd. Videodensitometric quantitation of mean blood flow. J Surg Res. 1983 Jun;34(6):524-32. Abstract

Van Lysel MS, Dobbins JT 3rd, Peppler WW, Hasegawa BH, Lee CS, Mistretta CA, Zarnstorff WC, Crummy AB, Kubal W, Bergsjordet B, Strother CM, Sackett JF. Hybrid temporal-energy subtraction in digital fluoroscopy. Radiology. 1983 Jun;147(3):869-74. Abstract

Myerowitz PD, Mistretta CA, Shaw CG, Van Lysel MS, Swanson DK, Lasser TA, Dhanani SP, Zarnstorff WC, Vander Ark CR, Dobbins JT 3rd, Peppler WW, Crummy AB. Digital cardiovascular imaging. In Coronary Artery Disease Today, Bruschke AVG, van Herpen G, Vermeulen FEE (eds), Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1982.

Peppler WW, Kudva BV, Dobbins JT 3rd, Lee CS, Hasegawa BH, Van Lysel M, Mistretta CA. A digitally controlled beam attenuator. Proc. SPIE Conference on Applications of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine X. 1982 May;347:106-11.

Van Lysel MS, Zarnstorff WC, Lancaster JC, Mistretta CA, Dobbins JT 3rd. Real-time digital video recording system. Proc. SPIE Conference on Digital Radiography. 1981 Sep;314:389-95.