Dr. Xinming Liu

Associate Member

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Imaging Physics

Research Interests:

• Digital radiography and digital mammography
• Digital imaging detector techniques
• Medical image quality measurement and evaluation
• CT radiation dose management
• Biomedical instrumentation

My primary research interests are in the development and application of digital imaging techniques for cancer detection and evaluation. Applications to chest and breast imaging are the main focuses. The current research activities are focused on digital chest and mammographic imaging techniques, computed tomography (CT) and digital tomosynthesis (DTS), quantitative medical image quality measurement/evaluation and their clinical implementations.

A tutorial would provide student experiences in the areas of digital radiography, digital mammography, CT and digital tomosynthesis using state-of-art digital detector techniques. The student will have opportunity to learn digital image acquisition, digital image processing, and quantitative image quality metrics measurement and evaluation.  

Selected Publications:

Liu, X. Shaw, C.C. Regional improvement of signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios in dual-screen CR chest imaging- a phantom study. Med Phys 28(6):1080-1092,2001.

Rong, X., Shaw, C.C., Liu, X., Lemacks, M. Comparison of An Amorphous Silicon/Cesium Iodide Flat-Panel Digital Chest Radiography System with Screen/Film and Computed Radiography Systems - A Contrast-Detail Phantom Study, Med Phys 28(11): 2328-2335, 2001.

Lemacks, M., Kappadath, C., Shaw, C.C., Liu, X., and Whitman, G. A Dual-Energy Subtraction Technique for Microcalcification Imaging in Digital Mammography - A Signal-to-Noise Analysis. Med Phys 29(8): 1739-1751, 2002.

Rong, X., Shaw, C.C., Johnston, D., Lemacks, M., Liu, X., Whitman, G., Dryden, M., Stephens, T., Thompson, S., and Krugh, K. Microcalcification Detectability for Four Mammographic Detectors: Flat-Panel, CCD, CR and Screen/Film. Med Phys 29(9): 2052-2061, 2002.

Liu, X, Shaw, C. Comparison of a-Si:H/CsI(Tl) Flat-panel Versus Computed Radiography for Chest Imaging Applications: Image Quality Metrics Measurement. Med Phys 31(1):98-110, 2004.

Liu X, Shaw CC, Altunbas MC, Wang T. An alternate line erasure and readout (ALER) method for implementing slot-scan imaging technique with a flat-panel detector--initial experiences. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 25(4):496-502, 4/2006.

Altunbas M, Shaw C, Chen L, Lai C, Liu X, Han T, and Wang T. A post-reconstruction method to correct cupping artifacts in cone beam breast computed tomography. Med Phys 34(7):3109-3118, 7/2007.

Liu X and Shaw CC. Rejection and redistribution of scattered radiation in Scan Equalization Digital Radiography (SEDR): simulation with spot images. Med Phys 34(7):2718-2729, 7/2007.

Lai C, Shaw C, Chen L, Altunbas M, Liu X, Han T, Wang T, Yang W, Whitman G, and Tu S. Visibility of microcalcification in cone beam breast CT - Effects of x-ray tube voltage and radiation dose. Med Phys 34(7):2995-3004, 7/2007.

Chen L, Shaw CC, Altunbas M, Lai C, and Liu X. Spatial resolution properties in cone beam CT: A simulation study. Med Phys 35(2):724-734, 2/2008.

Liu X, Shaw CC, Lai C, Altunbas M, Chen L, Han T, Wang T. Scatter rejection and low-contrast performance of a slot-scan digital chest radiography system with electronic aft-collimation: A chest phantom study. Med Phys 35(6):2391-2402, 6/2008.

Chen L, Shaw CC, Altunbas M, Lai C, Liu X, Han T, Wang T, Whitman G. Feasibility of Volume-of-interest (VOI) scanning technique in cone beam breast CT - a preliminary study. Med Phys 35(8):3482-3490, 8/2008.

Liu X., Lai C, Chen L, Han T, Zhong Y, Shen Y, Wang T, Shaw, CC. Scan equalization digital radiography (SEDR) implemented with an amorphous Selenium flat-panel detector: initial experience. Phys Med Biol, 54: 6959-6978. 11/2009.

Lai C, Chen L, Zhang H, Liu X, Zhong Y, Shen Y, Han T, Ge S, Yi Y, Wang T, Yang W, Whitman G, Shaw C. Reduction in x-ray scatter and radiation dose for volume-of-interest (VOI) cone beam breast CT: a phantom study. Phys Med Biol, 54: 6691-6709. 11/2009

Liu X, Shaw C, Lai C, Wang T. Comparison of scatter rejection and low contrast performance of scan equalization digital radiography (SEDR), slot-scan digital radiography and full-field digital radiography systems for chest phantom imaging.  Med Phys 38(1):23-33, 1/2011.

Yi Y, Lai CJ, Han T, Zhong Y, Shen Y, Liu X, Ge S, You Z, Wang T, Shaw CC.  Radiation doses in cone-beam breast computed tomography: A Monte Carlo simulation study.  Med Phys 38(2):589-97, 2/2011.

Liu X, Lai CJ, Whitman GJ, Geiser WR, Shen Y, Yi Y, Shaw CC.  Effects of exposure equalization on image signal-to-noise ratios in digital mammography: A simulation study with an anthropomorphic breast phantom. Med Phys 38(12):6489, 12/2011.

Shen Y, Yi Y, Zhong Y, Lai C, Liu X, You Z, Ge S, Wang T, Shaw C. High resolution dual detector volume-of-interest cone beam breast CT - demonstration with a bench top system.  Med Phys 38(12):6429-6442, 12/2011.

Additional Publications

Program Affiliation:

Program in Medical Physics