Reducing CT radiation dose with iterative reconstruction algorithms: the influence of scan and reconstruction parameters on image quality and CTDIvol

Klink, Thorsten; Obmann, Verena Carola; Heverhagen, Johannes; Stork, Alexander; Adam, Gerhard; Begemann, Philipp (2014). Reducing CT radiation dose with iterative reconstruction algorithms: the influence of scan and reconstruction parameters on image quality and CTDIvol. European journal of radiology, 83(9), pp. 1645-1654. Elsevier 10.1016/j.ejrad.2014.05.033

[img] Text
1-s2.0-S0720048X14002915-main.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (2MB)

OBJECTIVES

In this phantom CT study, we investigated whether images reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR) with reduced tube voltage and current have equivalent quality. We evaluated the effects of different acquisition and reconstruction parameter settings on image quality and radiation doses. Additionally, patient CT studies were evaluated to confirm our phantom results.

METHODS

Helical and axial 256 multi-slice computed tomography scans of the phantom (Catphan(®)) were performed with varying tube voltages (80-140kV) and currents (30-200mAs). 198 phantom data sets were reconstructed applying FBP and IR with increasing iterations, and soft and sharp kernels. Further, 25 chest and abdomen CT scans, performed with high and low exposure per patient, were reconstructed with IR and FBP. Two independent observers evaluated image quality and radiation doses of both phantom and patient scans.

RESULTS

In phantom scans, noise reduction was significantly improved using IR with increasing iterations, independent from tissue, scan-mode, tube-voltage, current, and kernel. IR did not affect high-contrast resolution. Low-contrast resolution was also not negatively affected, but improved in scans with doses <5mGy, although object detectability generally decreased with the lowering of exposure. At comparable image quality levels, CTDIvol was reduced by 26-50% using IR. In patients, applying IR vs. FBP resulted in good to excellent image quality, while tube voltage and current settings could be significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Our phantom experiments demonstrate that image quality levels of FBP reconstructions can also be achieved at lower tube voltages and tube currents when applying IR. Our findings could be confirmed in patients revealing the potential of IR to significantly reduce CT radiation doses.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Radiologie
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Radiologie

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (DRNN) > Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Paediatric Radiology

UniBE Contributor:

Klink, Thorsten, Obmann, Verena Carola, Heverhagen, Johannes

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0720-048X

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Aisha Stefania Mzinga

Date Deposited:

02 Apr 2015 15:37

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:44

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.ejrad.2014.05.033

PubMed ID:

25037931

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Computed tomography, Hybrid iterative reconstruction, Image quality, Phantom, Radiation dose

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.66047

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/66047

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback