| ACRIN |
American
College of Radiology Imaging Network |
| a-SI |
Amorphous
or non-crystalline silicon semionductor used in the fabrication
of thin film digital detector plates. |
| ATP |
Advanced
Technology Program |
| CAD |
Computer-aided
detection involves the use of computers to bring suspicious areas
on a mammogram to the radiologist's attention. CAD uses complex
algorithms. |
| CCD |
Charge-coupled
device |
| CsI |
Cesium
iodid usded for digital detector scintillator layer. |
| CT |
Computed
tomography, in which a thin beam of high eneergy radiation is
used to create a series of breast images taken from different
angles that are fed into a computer and combined into a single
image. |
| DARPA |
Defense
Advanced Research Project Agency |
| Detector
Panel |
Photosensor
array deposited on a glass substrate, a scintillator layer, and
a sealed protective cover. |
| DIC |
Diagnotic
Imaging Center |
| DQE |
Detective
Quantum Efficiency, the measure of the combined effect of noise
(random variations of signal) and contrast performance of an
imaging system, expressed as a function of object detail. Summary
measure of digital imaging system physical performance. |
False
Negative |
Mammogram
fails to detect a present cancer. |
False
Positive |
Mammogram
is read as abnormal, but cancer is not present. |
FDA |
Food
and Drug Administration |
FET |
Field-effect
transistor that acts as a switch to convey electrical charges
from the diode array to external read-out electronics. |
FFDM |
Full-field
digital mammography uses detector plates large enough to
capture entire breast in a single image. |
Film
Digitization |
Video
camera or laser scanner to digitize conventional X-ray film. |
Fluoroscopy |
Recording
real-time video image of the beating heart. |
GEGR |
General
Electric Global Research (formerly General Electric Corporate
Research & Development), the corporate research unit
of General Electric Company. |
GEMS |
General
Electric Medical Systems unit of General Electric Company |
ITO |
Indium
Tin Oxide |
Large
Area |
Dimensions
of the detector panel’s active area of at least 250
cm2. |
LCM |
Low-cost
a-Si manufacturing process funded by ATP. |
Machine
Vision |
Digital
imaging technology for machine automation. |
Mammography |
Use
of X-ray to create a picture of the breast. |
Masks |
Tool
for photolithographic pattern formation. |
Meta-Analysis |
Methodology
that combines the results of previous studies to arrive at
a summary conclusion about a body of research. |
Metastasize |
Spread
of cancer. Cancer cells break away from a primary tumor and
travel though the blood stream or lymphatic system to other
parts of the body. |
MRI |
Magnetic
resonance imaging creates detailed pictures of areas inside
the body without the use of radiation. |
NDT |
Nondestructive
Testing |
PACS |
Picture
Archiving and Communications System |
Passivation |
Protective
oxide film layer in photolithographic pattern formation to
protect or passivate junctions. |
Photodiode |
Device
that absorbs light and converts it into electrical charges. |
Photolithography |
Technique
in the semiconductor industry using ultraviolet light for
integrated circuit pattern formation. |
Pixel |
Discreet
microelements that collectively constitute a digital image. |
PKI |
PerkinElmer,
Inc. |
PPO |
Preferred
Provider Organization |
Radiography |
Use
of radiology techniques for X-ray imaging and interpretation
of the chest and other large anatomical regions. |
Radiology |
Branch
of medicine concerned with the use of X-rays in the diagnosis
and treatment of disease. |
Revolution
XR/d |
FDA-approved
GE digital radiography system. |
Scintillator |
Device
for converting X-ray energy to light. |
Screening |
Checking
for disease when there are no symptoms. |
Selenium |
Semiconductor
material (alternative to a-Si) that can operate without a
scintillator, absorbing X-rays directly and converting them
to electrical charges. |
Senographe
2000D |
FDA-approved
GE digital mammography system. |
SFM |
Screen
film mammography denoting conventional X-ray film mammography. |
Tissue
Equalization |
FFDM
processing method that improves visibility of breast tissue
out to the skin line. |
Ultrasound |
High-frequency
sound waves used to produce an image. |
X-ray |
High-energy
radiation used in low doses to diagnose disease. |
