Method and tomosynthesis apparatus to show a predetermined volume segment of an examination subject

A tomosynthesis system comprising:

• a tomosynthesis apparatus comprising an x-ray source and a radiation detector;
• a control unit configured to operate the tomosynthesis apparatus to implement a radioscopy test by generating x-rays with a defined radiation dose from said x-ray source, said x-rays traversing a predetermined volume segment of a breast of an examination subject and striking said radiation detector with an intensity that is detected by said radiation detector;
• a processor configured to calculate a first radiation dose necessary for x-rays emitted by said x-ray source to be able to produce a two-dimensional diagnostic mammogram of the breast, dependent on the defined radiation dose and the detected intensity;
• said processor being configured to automatically calculate a second radiation dose for x-rays generated by said x-ray source to implement a tomosynthesis procedure, dependent on said defined radiation dose and the detected intensity, said second radiation dose being substantially lower than said first radiation dose;
• and
• said control unit being configured to operate said tomosynthesis apparatus to implement said tomosynthesis procedure by irradiating said predetermined volume segment with x-rays generated by said x-ray source from a plurality of different projection directions with x-rays being generated at each of said projection directions with said second radiation dose, said x-rays generated with said second radiation dose at each of said projection directions striking said detector after traversing the predetermined volume segment.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a computerized operating and processing unit of a tomosynthesis apparatus comprising an x-ray source and a radiation detector, said programming instructions causing said computerized operating and processing system to:

• operate the tomosynthesis apparatus to implement a radioscopy test by generating x-rays with a defined radiation dose from said x-ray source, said x-rays traversing a predetermined volume segment of a breast of an examination subject and striking said radiation detector with an intensity that is detected by said radiation detector;
• automatically calculate a first radiation dose necessary for x-rays emitted by said x-ray source to be able to produce a two-dimensional diagnostic mammogram of the breast, dependent on the defined radiation dose and the detected intensity;
• automatically calculate a second radiation dose for x-rays generated by said x-ray source to implement a tomosynthesis procedure, dependent on said defined radiation dose and the detected intensity, said second radiation dose being substantially lower than said first radiation dose;
• and
• operate said tomosynthesis apparatus to implement said tomosynthesis procedure by irradiating said predetermined volume segment with x-rays generated by said x-ray source from a plurality of different projection directions with x-rays being generated at each of said projection directions with said second radiation dose, said x-rays generated with said second radiation dose at each of said projection directions striking said detector after traversing the predetermined volume segment.