Six iterative reconstruction algorithms in brain CT- A phantom study on image quality at different radiation doses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the image quality produced by six different iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms in four CT systems in the setting of brain CT, using different radiation dose levels and iterative image optimisation levels. METHODS: An image quality phantom, supplied with a bone mimicking annulus, was examined using four CT systems from different vendors and four radiation dose levels. Acquisitions were reconstructed using conventional filtered back-projection (FBP), three levels of statistical IR and, when available, a model-based IR algorithm. The evaluated image quality parameters were CT numbers, uniformity, noise, noise-power spectra, low-contrast resolution and spatial resolution. RESULTS: Compared with FBP, noise reduction was achieved by all six IR algorithms at all radiation dose levels, with further improvement seen at higher IR levels. Noise-power spectra revealed changes in noise distribution relative to the FBP for most statistical IR algorithms, especially the two model-based IR algorithms. Compared with FBP, variable degrees of improvements were seen in both objective and subjective low-contrast resolutions for all IR algorithms. Spatial resolution was improved with both model-based IR algorithms and one of the statistical IR algorithms. CONCLUSION: The four statistical IR algorithms evaluated in the study all improved the general image quality compared with FBP, with improvement seen for most or all evaluated quality criteria. Further improvement was achieved with one of the model-based IR algorithms. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The six evaluated IR algorithms all improve the image quality in brain CT but show different strengths and weaknesses

MODEL BASED ITERATIVE RECONSTRUCTION IMR GIVES POSSIBILITY TO EVALUATE THINNER SLICE THICKNESSES THAN CONVENTIONAL ITERATIVE RECONSTRUCTION iDOSE4 – A PHANTOM STUDY

Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most important modalities in a radiological department, which produces images with high diagnostic confidence, but in some cases contributes to a high radiation dose to the patient. The radiation dose can be reduced by the use of advanced image reconstruction algorithms. This study was done on a Philips Brilliance iCT with iterative reconstruction iDose(4) and model-based iterative reconstruction IMR. The purpose was to investigate the effect on the image quality with thin slice images reconstructed with IMR, compared to standard slice thickness reconstructed with iDose(4). Objective measurements of noise and contrast-to-noise ratio were performed using an image quality phantom, an anthropomorphic phantom and clinical cases. Subjective evaluations of low-contrast resolution were performed by observers using an image quality phantom. IMR gives strong noise reduction and enhanced low-contrast and thereby enable selection of thinner slice thickness. Objective evaluation of image noise shows that thin slices reconstructed with IMR provides lower noise than thicker slice images reconstructed with iDose(4). With IMR the slice thickness is of less importance for the noise. With thinner slices the partial volume artefacts becomes less pronounced. In conclusion, we have shown that IMR enables reduction of the slice thickness and at the same time maintain or even reduce the noise level compared to iDose(4) reconstruction with standard slice thickness. This will subsequently result in an improvement of image quality for images reconstructed with IMR

Low-dose radiation with 80-kVp computed tomography to diagnose pulmonary embolism: a feasibility study.

BackgroundMounting collective radiation doses from computed tomography (CT) implies an increased risk of radiation-induced cancer in exposed populations, especially in the young.PurposeTo evaluate radiation dose and image quality at 80-kVp CT to diagnose acute pulmonary embolism (PE) compared with a previous study at 100 and 120 kVp with all other scanning parameters unchanged.Material and MethodsA custom-made chest phantom with a 12 mg I/mL-syringe was scanned at 80/100/120 kVp to evaluate relative changes in computed tomographic dose index (CTDI(vol)), attenuation, image noise, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Fifty patients underwent 80 kVp 16-row detector CT at 100 "Quality reference" mAs. A total of 350 mg I/kg were injected to compensate for increased CNR at 80 kVp, while 300 mg I/kg had been used at 100/120 kVp. CTDI(vol), dose-length product (DLP), and estimated effective dose were evaluated including Monte Carlo simulations. Pulmonary artery attenuation and noise were measured and CNR calculated. Two radiologists evaluated subjective image quality using a four-grade scale.ResultsSwitching from 120 to 80 kVp in the phantom study decreased radiation dose by 67% while attenuation and noise increased 1.6 and 2.0 times, respectively, and CNR decreased by 16%. Switching from 120 to 80 kVp in the patient studies decreased estimated effective dose from 4.0 to 1.2 mSv (70% decrease) in median while pulmonary artery attenuation and noise roughly doubled from 332 to 653 HU and from 22 to 49 HU, respectively, resulting in similar CNR (13 vs. 12). At 80 kVp all examinations were regarded as adequate (8%) or excellent (92%).ConclusionSwitching from 120 to 80 kVp CT without increased mAs but slightly increased iodine dose may be of special benefit to diagnose PE in younger individuals with preserved renal function where the primary aim is to minimize radiation dose and reaching levels below that of scintigraphy