JP2014090984A - Mammography apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mammography apparatus capable of radiographing a portion of the breast of a subject on the trunk side from a line that is set outside the chest wall.SOLUTION: A mammography apparatus includes: a radiography platform 22 for placing a breast C of a subject; and an X-ray source having an X-ray focal point for irradiating the breast C of the subject placed on the radiography platform with an X-ray. The X-ray focal point is formed on a trunk side B of the subject from a line L that is set outside the chest wall of the subject while the breast C of the subject is being placed on the radiography platform 22.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mammography apparatus.

Conventional mammography apparatuses include those described in Patent Documents 1 to 6. These patent documents disclose an X-ray imaging apparatus having a configuration in which an X-ray source is disposed vertically above a breast of a subject.
In order to image a breast in contact with the chest wall as widely as possible, an arrangement in which an X-ray source is arranged on an extension of the subject's chest wall is known. However, in the configuration in which the X-ray source is arranged on the extension line of the subject's chest wall, the chest and head of the subject interfere with the protective exterior of the X-ray tube used as the X-ray source. The upper chest mural may not enter the X-ray field.
Further, in mammography, when performing stereo imaging that allows stereoscopic viewing, a method of performing imaging by moving the X-ray source in the left-right direction with respect to the body axis of the subject is used. . However, with such a method, it is difficult to make a left-right comparison when an interpreter observes. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration for solving such a problem. However, with this configuration, it is impossible to perform display in accordance with the mammography scanning interpretation hanging protocol described in Patent Document 3. For this reason, it is preferable that the X-ray source is moved in the body axis direction of the subject to perform stereo imaging as described in Patent Documents 4 to 6. However, in such a configuration, the X-ray source is arranged in front of the extension line of the subject's chest wall. For this reason, since the portion on the chest wall side above the breast does not enter the X-ray irradiation field, this portion is lost in stereo vision.

JP 2009-205992 A JP 2011-206206 A JP 2010-227207 A JP 2006-95327 A JP 2012-50473 A JP 2012-50517 A

  In view of the above situation, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that a portion of the subject's trunk side can be photographed with respect to a line passing through the outermost side of the subject's chest wall and parallel to the subject's trunk. It is to provide a mammography apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a mammography apparatus for imaging a subject's breast, comprising an imaging table on which the subject's breast can be placed, an X-ray focal point, An X-ray source capable of irradiating the subject's breast placed on the imaging table with X-rays, and the X-ray focal point is in a state where the subject places the breast on the imaging table in a side view. It is characterized in that it is provided closer to the subject's trunk than a line passing through the outermost side of the examiner's chest wall and parallel to the subject's trunk.

  According to the present invention, a portion closer to the trunk side than the extension line of the subject's chest wall can be imaged, so that the X-ray focal point is disposed on the extension line of the subject's chest wall. Thus, the range that can be photographed can be widened. Furthermore, even when the subject's breast is photographed in stereo, information from the front of the breast to the edge on the chest wall side can be acquired, so that an image field of view equal to or better than that of the conventional configuration can be secured. Then, it is possible to display the left and right comparisons according to the interpretation hanging protocol.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of a mammography apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the end portion of the compression plate. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the transmission X-ray source device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the reflective X-ray source device. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an X-ray irradiation range in the first embodiment and an X-ray irradiation range in the conventional configuration. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a transmission X-ray source device applied to the mammography apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of a mammography apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the mammography apparatus 2 includes a base 21, an arm 23, an imaging table 22, a transmission X-ray source device 24, an X-ray detection device 27, a compression plate 25, A control unit 30, an operation unit 31, a display unit 32, and a moving mechanism 33 are included.
The arm 23 extends from the base 21 to above the breast C of the subject P. A transmissive X-ray source device 24 is provided at the tip of the arm 23 via a moving mechanism 33. As shown in FIG. 1, the transmission X-ray source device 24 includes a chest wall in a side view above the breast C of the subject P in a state where the subject P places the breast C on the imaging table 22. It is located closer to the trunk B of the subject P than the outer line L. The chest wall outer line L is a virtual straight line that is substantially parallel to the trunk B of the subject P and passes through the outermost (front side) position of the chest wall D of the subject P. The entire transmission X-ray source device 24 may not be located on the trunk B side of the subject P with respect to the chest wall outer line L. At least, when the subject P places the breast C on the imaging table 22, the X-ray focal point only needs to be positioned on the trunk B side of the subject P with respect to the chest wall outer line L. The X-ray focal point refers to a portion where X-rays are generated in the transmissive X-ray source device 24. In the present embodiment, the anode target 204 of the X-ray tube 241 becomes the X-ray focal point (details will be described later). According to such a configuration, the transmission X-ray source device 24 can irradiate a portion closer to the trunk B than the chest wall outer line L in the breast C of the subject P. The configuration of the transmissive X-ray source device 24 will be described later.

  The imaging table 22 is a table on which the breast C of the subject P can be placed. A compression plate 25 is provided above the imaging table 22 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

  The compression plate 25 is made of a material that transmits X-rays. Then, the breast C of the subject P can be sandwiched between the imaging table 22 and the compression plate 25. Note that the compression plate 25 is formed in a shape that does not cause a shadow that interferes with interpretation due to folding or edges on the edge of the breast C of the subject P. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the edge located on the subject P side of the compression plate 25. Of the peripheral edge of the compression plate 25, a portion extending from a portion (end surface) facing the chest wall of the subject P and a portion sandwiching the breast C (lower surface) has a predetermined curvature as shown in FIG. It is formed into a smooth curved surface having a radius. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, a configuration may be adopted in which a portion facing the chest wall of the subject P is formed on an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to a portion sandwiching the breast C. According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the amount of transmitted X-rays from changing extremely due to the compression plate 25.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the imaging table 22 is provided with an X-ray detection device 27. The X-ray detection device 27 detects X-rays transmitted through the breast C of the subject P placed on the imaging table 22, converts the detected X-rays into electric signals of X-ray images, and outputs them to the control unit. . A conventionally known X-ray detection device can be applied to the X-ray detection device 27. Note that the X-ray detection device 27 may be configured to be detachable from the imaging table 22.

The moving mechanism 33 can move the transmissive X-ray source device 24 between two points having different positions. The two predetermined points are both in a state where the subject P places the breast C on the imaging table 22 and the X-ray focal point is above the breast C of the subject P and is more than the chest wall outer line L. The point is preferably located on the trunk B side of the subject P. However, at least one of the two points is in a state where the subject P places the breast C on the imaging table 22, the X-ray focal point is above the breast C of the subject P, and the chest wall outer line What is necessary is just a point located on the trunk B side of the subject P rather than L. These two points are preferably two points arranged in a direction perpendicular to the chest wall of the subject P in a state where the subject P places the breast C on the imaging table 22. Then, the moving mechanism 33 can hold the transmission X-ray source device 24 in a state where the transmission X-ray source device 24 is positioned at each of these two predetermined points.
The moving mechanism 33 moves the transmissive X-ray source device 24 under the control of the control unit 30.
As the moving mechanism 33, various known moving mechanisms such as a direct acting actuator can be applied. Therefore, the description is omitted.

The operation unit 31 is used by the examiner to operate the mammography apparatus 2. For example, the operation unit 31 includes a keyboard provided with various input keys and a pointing device such as a mouse. A signal input by operating the keyboard or mouse is output to the control unit 30.
The display unit 32 displays the X-ray image detected by the X-ray detection device 27, information for controlling the mammography apparatus 2, and the like under the control of the control unit 30. As the display unit 32, for example, an LCD capable of stereo display is applied.

The control unit 30 controls the mammography apparatus 2. As the control unit 30, a computer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM and the like is applied. In the ROM, a computer program for controlling the mammography apparatus 2 is stored in advance. The CPU reads and executes a computer program stored in the ROM in response to a signal input from the operation unit 31. The RAM is used as a work area when the CPU executes a computer program. Thereby, the mammography apparatus 2 is controlled.
Therefore, the inspector can drive the transmission X-ray source device 24, the X-ray detection device 27, the compression plate 25, the display unit 32, and the moving mechanism 33 by operating the operation unit 31. it can.
Further, the control unit 30 executes various predetermined image processing on the X-ray image detected by the X-ray detection device 27. For example, the control unit 30 can convert the image signal output from the X-ray detection device 27 into a format suitable for display on the display unit 32. Then, the control unit 30 can control the display unit 32 to display the X-ray image detected by the X-ray detection device 27 on the display unit 32. In particular, the control unit 30 determines a display state such as a screen layout of the display unit 32 using a hanging protocol. The hanging protocol is set in advance by an inspector or the like, and is stored in the ROM as computer-readable data or a program. The CPU of the control unit 30 reads and uses the hanging protocol from the ROM.
In addition, a storage device that can store an X-ray image detected by the X-ray detection device 27 may be connected to the control unit 30.

Next, the configuration of the transmissive X-ray source device 24 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a transmission X-ray source device 24 applied to the mammography apparatus 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission X-ray source device 24 includes an X-ray tube 241 and an exterior member 201 in which the X-ray tube 241 is accommodated.

  The X-ray tube 241 includes a vacuum container 202 such as a glass bulb or a metal envelope, and an electron generation unit 203 and an anode target 204 disposed inside the vacuum container 202. The electron generator 203 is disposed at one end inside the vacuum container 202, and the anode target 204 is disposed at the other end inside the vacuum container 202. The electron generator 203 irradiates electrons W toward the anode target 204. For example, an electron gun or a cathode filament that emits thermoelectrons when an electric current flows is applied to the electron generator 203. The anode target 204 generates X-rays when the electrons W irradiated from the electron generator 203 collide. Thus, in this embodiment, the anode target 204 becomes the X-ray focal point. An irradiation window (not shown) through which X-rays can be transmitted is formed at the end of the vacuum vessel 202 on the side where the anode target 204 is disposed. Portions other than the irradiation window portion of the vacuum vessel 202 block X-rays. For this reason, X-rays generated in the anode target 204 as the X-ray focal point are irradiated to the outside of the vacuum vessel 202 through the irradiation window.

  The exterior member 201 is provided with an X-ray diaphragm 205 that defines an X-ray irradiation range. The X-ray diaphragm 205 is also referred to as a collimator. The X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 241 are emitted toward the breast C of the subject P placed on the imaging table 22 in a state where the irradiation range is narrowed by the X-ray diaphragm 205. . Specifically, the X-ray stop 205 irradiates only the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 241 only to the X-ray detection unit of the X-ray detection device 27 incorporated in the imaging table 22, and other areas. Is restricted from being irradiated. Note that the X-ray detection unit of the X-ray detection device 27 is an area where pixels capable of detecting X-rays are arranged, and refers to an area where irradiated X-rays can be converted into electrical signals. According to such a configuration, the subject P is prevented from being exposed to portions other than the breast C. Various conventionally known configurations can be applied to the X-ray diaphragm 205.

An imaging method using the mammography apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment is as follows.
If the X-ray detection device 27 is detachable, the inspector first attaches the X-ray detection device 27 to the imaging table 22. Next, the breast C of the subject P is placed on the imaging table 22 and sandwiched between the compression plates 25. Note that the compression plate 25 may not be used depending on the situation of the imaging region. Next, in the side view, the transmission X-ray source device 24 is positioned so that the X-ray focal point is located on the trunk B side with respect to the chest wall outer line L. Next, the inspector operates the operation unit 31 to drive the transmission X-ray source device 24. The control unit 30 irradiates the breast C of the subject P placed on the imaging table 22 with X-rays according to the operation by the examiner, and detects X-rays transmitted through the breast C of the subject P. It is detected by the device 27. Then, the control unit 30 performs predetermined image processing on the X-ray image detected by the X-ray detection device 27. Then, the control unit 30 causes the display unit 32 to display an X-ray image. At this time, when the left and right breast images are displayed simultaneously, the control unit 30 uses a preset hanging protocol.

In the X-ray tube 241 applied to such a transmission X-ray source device 24, an electron generation unit 203 is provided above the anode target 204 that is an X-ray focal point. With such a configuration, the exterior member 201 can be made smaller than the reflective X-ray source device 901.
Here, an example of the configuration of the reflective X-ray source device 901 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the reflective X-ray source device 901. As shown in FIG. 4, the reflective X-ray source device 901 includes an electron generation unit 103, an anode target 104, a vacuum container 102, and an exterior member 101. X _{2 in} FIG. 4 schematically shows the irradiated X-ray. The electron generator 103 is disposed in front of the anode target 104 inside the vacuum vessel 102. Then, the electron generator 103 irradiates electrons W toward the anode target 104. The anode target 104 is rotatably supported by the vacuum vessel 102 via the rotation shaft 105. A target layer made of a metal element such as molybdenum is formed on the surface of the anode target 104. When the electrons W irradiated from the electron generator 103 collide with the target layer, X-rays are generated. The exterior member 201 covers the vacuum container 102. The exterior member 201 is provided with an X-ray stop 107 that defines an irradiation range of X-rays generated in the target layer of the anode target 104.

  The reflection type X-ray source device 901 having such a configuration emits radiation toward the direction in which the electrons W incident on the anode target 104 are reflected. To be provided). Thus, since the electron generation part 103 is provided in front of the anode target 104, it is difficult to reduce the distance between the anode target 104 and the inner wall surface of the vacuum vessel 102. For this reason, the external dimension of the vacuum vessel 102 becomes large, and as a result, the exterior member 201 also becomes large. Further, a support mechanism for rotatably supporting the anode target 104 is required. Furthermore, a drive mechanism for rotating the anode target 104 or a power transmission mechanism for transmitting rotational power to the anode target 104 is required. For this reason, the reflective X-ray source device 901 requires a large exterior member 101. Therefore, disposing the reflective X-ray source device 901 so that the X-ray focal point is located on the trunk B side with respect to the chest wall outer line L means that the exterior member 101 of the reflective X-ray source device 901 and the subject P It is difficult to interfere with your body.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the X-ray tube 241 applied to the transmission X-ray source device 24, the upper side of the anode target 204 which is the X-ray focal point (that is, the side irradiated with X-rays). The electron generator 203 is provided on the opposite side. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to dispose the anode target 204 or the like below the anode target 204 that is the X-ray focal point (the side irradiated with X-rays). For this reason, the anode target 204 and the inner wall surface of the vacuum vessel 102 can be brought close to each other. Therefore, with such a configuration to which such an X-ray tube 241 is applied, it is easy to position the X-ray focal point closer to the trunk B side than the chest wall outer line L of the subject P in a side view. .

Here, the X-ray irradiation range in the first embodiment and the X-ray irradiation range in the conventional configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an X-ray irradiation range in the first embodiment and an X-ray irradiation range in the conventional configuration. A region X _{1 in} FIG. 5 indicates an X-ray irradiation region in the first embodiment. An area X ₂ indicates an X-ray irradiation area in the conventional configuration example.
In the conventional configuration, the exterior member 101 of the reflective X-ray source device 901 interferes with the body of the subject P, so that the X-ray focal point F ₂ of the reflective X-ray source device 901 is more than the chest wall outer line L. It cannot be arranged on the trunk B side. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, in the conventional configuration, the region E between the chest wall outer line L and the chest wall D cannot be irradiated with X-rays. Therefore, with the conventional configuration, an X-ray image of this region E cannot be acquired.
On the other hand, according to the first embodiment, the exterior member 201 can be made smaller than the reflective X-ray source device 901, and the drive mechanism and power transmission mechanism for the anode target 204 are unnecessary. Therefore, the transmissive X-ray source device 24 is arranged so that the X-ray focal point F ₁ is located on the trunk B side with respect to the chest wall outer line L without interference between the exterior member 201 and the body of the subject P. can do. Therefore, according to such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, the region E between the chest wall outer line L and the chest wall D of the breast C of the subject P can be irradiated with X-rays. At this time, since other portions of the subject P (particularly, the portion closer to the trunk B than the chest wall D) are prevented from being irradiated with X-rays, the subject P can avoid unnecessary X-ray exposure. There is nothing to do.

Here, a configuration for performing stereo shooting will be described.
When performing stereo imaging, the examiner first images the breast C of the subject P by positioning the transmission X-ray source device 24 at a certain point using the moving mechanism 33. Next, using the moving mechanism 33, the transmission X-ray source device 24 is positioned at another point different from the one point, and the breast C of the subject P is imaged. As described above, these two points are two points arranged in a direction perpendicular to the chest wall of the subject P. Then, the control unit 30 causes the display unit 32 to display in stereo the X-ray images captured at these two points. These two points are both such that the X-ray focal point is located on the trunk B side with respect to the chest wall outer line L. According to such a configuration, when stereo imaging of the breast C of the subject P is performed, information from the tip of the breast C to the edge on the chest wall D side can be acquired (see FIG. 5). For this reason, it is possible to secure an image field of view equal to or greater than that of the conventional configuration. Further, it is possible to display the left and right in accordance with a predetermined interpretation hanging protocol.

Here, according to the image paste (hanging) protocol standard for breast X-ray images, both the left and right breast X-ray images are obtained by aligning the position of each chest wall with the center portion in the horizontal direction of both the MLO image and the CC image. The breasts are supposed to be displayed side by side. A similar display method is desired for a stereo image of a breast X-ray image as a display method familiar to doctors who interpret images.
However, since conventional mammogram X-ray imaging is performed with the X-ray focal point moving in the horizontal direction on the chest wall, stereo vision of the breast can be obtained by observing horizontally on the chest wall. Therefore, the breast image is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the image sticking (hanging) protocol standard, and the left and right breasts are displayed up and down as in Patent Document 2.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stereo image of a breast is displayed in accordance with an image pasting (hanging) protocol standard that is used by an interpreting physician because the X-ray focal point moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the chest wall. Stereo viewing in a way becomes possible.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structure as 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a transmission X-ray source device 29 applied to the mammography apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the transmission X-ray source device 29 includes an X-ray tube 291 and an exterior member 201 in which the X-ray tube 291 is accommodated. In the first embodiment, the transmission X-ray source device 24 is provided on the arm 23 via the moving mechanism 33. However, in the second embodiment, the moving mechanism 33 may not be provided. In the second embodiment, since the transmission X-ray source device 29 has a plurality of X-ray focal points, a stereo image can be obtained by irradiating X-rays from a plurality of different positions without being moved by the moving mechanism 33. Can do.

The X-ray tube 291 includes a plurality of electron generators 203, a plurality of anode targets 204, and a vacuum container 302 that accommodates these. A plurality of electron generators 203 are arranged at one end inside the vacuum container 302. A plurality of anode targets 204 are arranged at the other end inside the vacuum vessel 302. The electrons irradiated by each of the plurality of electron generation units 203 collide with each of the plurality of anode targets 204. Each of the plurality of anode targets 204 generates X-rays when the electrons W collide. A plurality of X-ray transmissive window portions that can transmit X-rays are formed at the other end of the vacuum vessel 302. Portions other than the X-ray transmission window portion of the vacuum vessel 302 block X-rays. Then, X-rays generated in each of the plurality of anode targets 204 pass through each of the plurality of X-ray transmission window portions and irradiate the outside of the vacuum vessel 302.
FIG. 6 shows an example in which the X-ray tube 291 has two electron generation units 203 and two anode targets 204.
When the X-ray tube 291 is configured to have two anode targets 204 (that is, two X-ray focal points), these two anode targets 204 are used by the subject P to place the breast C on the imaging table 22. In a state of being placed, they are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the chest wall of the subject P. When the X-ray tube 291 has three or more anode targets 204, any two of the three or more anode targets 204 are in a direction perpendicular to the chest wall of the subject P. line up. According to such a configuration, a stereo image can be obtained by irradiating the breast C of the subject P with X-rays from two points separated in a direction perpendicular to the chest wall of the subject P.

The exterior member 301 in which the X-ray tube 291 is accommodated is provided with a plurality of X-ray stops 205 corresponding to the number of X-ray focal points. Each of the plurality of X-ray stops 205 defines an irradiation range of X-rays irradiated through the respective X-ray transmission window portions of the plurality of X-ray tubes 291.
A plurality of X-rays irradiated from the X-ray tube 291 (two X-rays X _R and X _{L in} FIG. 6) are in a state where the irradiation range is reduced by each of the plurality of X-ray stops 205. The light is irradiated toward the breast C of the subject P placed on the imaging table 22. With such a configuration, the breast C of the subject P can be captured in stereo. At this time, the control unit 30 causes the display unit 32 to display the stereo image by using a hanging protocol for displaying the stereo image of the left and right breasts C on the chest wall D side. Thereby, the mammography apparatus 2 can present to the examiner (interpreter) a display in which the left and right breast stereo images are confronted on the chest wall D side. The hanging protocol is as described in the first embodiment. Thus, according to 2nd Embodiment of this invention, there can exist an effect similar to 1st Embodiment.

  The present invention is a technique suitable for a mammography apparatus. According to the present invention, since the portion of the subject's trunk side relative to the chest wall outer line can be imaged, compared to the conventional configuration in which the X-ray focal point is disposed on the subject's chest wall outer line. The range that can be photographed can be widened. Furthermore, even when the subject's breast is photographed in stereo, information from the front of the breast to the edge on the chest wall side can be acquired, so that an image field of view equal to or better than that of the conventional configuration can be secured. Then, it is possible to display the left and right comparisons according to the interpretation hanging protocol.

101: exterior member, 102: vacuum container, 103: electron generator, 104: anode target, 105: rotating shaft, 107: X-ray aperture, 2: mammography apparatus, 21: base, 22: imaging table, 23: Arm, 24: Transmission type X-ray source device, 25: Compression plate, 29: Transmission type X-ray source device, 30: Control unit, 31: Operation unit, 32: Display unit, 33: Movement mechanism, 201: Exterior Member: 202: X-ray tube, 203: Electron generator, 204: Anode target, 205: X-ray aperture, 301: Exterior member, 302: Vacuum container, 901: Reflective X-ray source device, B: Subject Of the subject, C: breast of the subject, D: chest wall, E: area where X-rays cannot be irradiated in the conventional configuration, L: outer line of the chest wall, P: subject, W: electron, X ₁ : of the present invention X-ray in an embodiment, X _2: X-ray in the conventional configuration, X _R: one of the anode Target X-rays emitted from the bets, X _L: X-rays emitted from the other of the anode target

Claims (3)

A mammography apparatus for imaging a breast of a subject,
An imaging table on which the subject's breast can be placed,
An X-ray source having an X-ray focal point and capable of irradiating the subject's breast placed on the imaging table with X-rays;
With
The X-ray focal point is more than a line passing through the outermost side of the subject's chest wall and parallel to the subject's trunk in a side view when the subject places the breast on the imaging table. A mammography apparatus characterized by being provided on the trunk side of the breast. A mammography apparatus for imaging a breast of a subject,
An imaging table on which the subject's breast can be placed,
An X-ray source having a plurality of X-ray focal points and capable of irradiating the breast of a subject placed on the imaging table with X-rays;
With
At least one of the plurality of X-ray focal points is a line parallel to the trunk of the subject passing through the outermost side of the chest wall of the subject in a state where the subject places the breast on the imaging table. A mammography apparatus characterized by being provided closer to the trunk of the subject. A mammography apparatus for imaging a breast of a subject,
An imaging table on which the subject's breast can be placed,
An X-ray source having an X-ray focal point movable to two different positions, and capable of emitting X-rays from the two points to the breast of a subject placed on the imaging table;
And at least one of the two points is a line that passes through the outermost side of the subject's chest wall and is parallel to the subject's trunk when the subject places the breast on the imaging table. Located closer to the subject's trunk than
A breast X-ray imaging apparatus that performs stereo imaging of the breast of the subject by irradiating the breast of the subject placed on the imaging table from the two points with X-rays.

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