Breast density assessment

A method for providing mammography information about an object of interest, the region of interest comprising a tissue structure, the method comprising the following steps:

• a) acquiring first image data with first image acquisition parameters;
• wherein the first image parameters are adapted to a first radiation spectrum of a dual energy mode;
• and wherein the first image acquisition is performed with a low X-ray dosage of a pre-scan;
• b) acquiring second image data with second image acquisition parameters;
• wherein the second image parameters are adapted to a second radiation spectrum of the dual energy mode;
• and wherein the second image acquisition is performed with a higher X-ray dosage than the first image acquisition, and wherein the second image acquisition is a mammography scan;
• c) performing a dual energy basis material decomposition based on the first and second image data to generate decomposed basis material image data;
• d) deriving a density information of the tissue structure of the region of interest from the decomposed basis material image data;
• and providing the density information to a user.

A non-transitory readable medium embodying a computer program for providing mammography information about an object of interest, the region of interest comprising a tissue structure, said program having instructions executable by processor for performing a plurality of acts, from among said plurality there being the acts of:

• a) acquiring first image data with first image acquisition parameters;
• wherein the first image parameters are adapted to a first radiation spectrum of a dual energy mode;
• and wherein the first image acquisition is performed with a low X-ray dosage of a pre-scan;
• b) acquiring second image data with second image acquisition parameters;
• wherein the second image parameters are adapted to a second radiation spectrum of the dual energy mode;
• and wherein the second image acquisition is performed with a higher X-ray dosage than the first image acquisition, and wherein the second image acquisition is a mammography scan;
• c) performing a dual energy basis material decomposition based on the first and second image data to generate decomposed basis material image data d) deriving a density information of the tissue structure of the region of interest from the decomposed basis material image data and providing the density information to a user.