X-ray mammography with tomosynthesis

A method of imaging a patient's breast with x-rays using a flat panel digital x-ray imager to obtain both two dimensional (2D) image data for a conventional mammogram data and three-dimensional (3D) image data for tomosynthesis images in a single breast compression, using an anti-scatter grid in obtaining some but not all the image data, comprising:

• immobilizing a patient's breast between an x-ray source and a flat panel digital x-ray imager;
• energizing the x-ray source to emit x-rays at each of a plurality of different angular positions of the source relative to the breast while the breast remains immobilized, and concurrently using the imager to derive x-ray projection image data for the respective positions;
• wherein the image data for at least one of said positions, called hereafter a mammogram position, are taken at a view matching that of a conventional CC and/or MLO view used in conventional mammography, and the image data for a plurality of other positions, called hereafter tomosynthesis positions, are taken at other relative angles of the source and breast;
• wherein the x-ray dose to the patient's breast when taking said image data for each of said tomosynthesis positions is less than the x-ray dose when taking said image data for said mammogram position, and the x-ray dose for said mammogram position is similar to a dose used for a conventional mammogram;
• using an anti-scatter grid between the patient's breast an the imager for at least the mammogram position but not for at least some of the tomosynthesis positions;
• and
• processing the image data taken for the mammogram position to form and display a mammogram and using the image data taken for said tomosynthesis positions to form and display tomosynthesis images of the breast.