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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 4/2006

01-04-2006 | Experimental

A computer-simulated liver phantom (virtual liver phantom) for multidetector computed tomography evaluation

Authors: Yoshinori Funama, Kazuo Awai, Osamu Miyazaki, Yoshiharu Nakayama, Da Liu, Taiga Goto, Yasuyuki Yamashita, Shinichi Hori

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 4/2006

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Abstract

Objective

The purpose of study was to develop a computer-simulated liver phantom for hepatic CT studies. A computer-simulated liver phantom was mathematically constructed on a computer workstation.

Materials and methods

The computer-simulated phantom was calibrated using real CT images acquired by an actual four-detector CT. We added an inhomogeneous texture to the simulated liver by referring to CT images of chronically damaged human livers. The mean CT number of the simulated liver was 60 HU and we added numerous 5-to 10-mm structures with 60±10 HU/mm. To mimic liver tumors we added nodules measuring 8, 10, and 12 mm in diameter with CT numbers of 60±10, 60±15, and 60±20 HU. Five radiologists visually evaluated similarity of the texture of the computer-simulated liver phantom and a real human liver to confirm the appropriateness of the virtual liver images using a five-point scale.

Results

The total score was 44 in two radiologists, and 42, 41, and 39 in one radiologist each. They evaluated that the textures of virtual liver were comparable to those of human liver.

Conclusions

Our computer-simulated liver phantom is a promising tool for the evaluation of the image quality and diagnostic performance of hepatic CT imaging.
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Metadata
Title
A computer-simulated liver phantom (virtual liver phantom) for multidetector computed tomography evaluation
Authors
Yoshinori Funama
Kazuo Awai
Osamu Miyazaki
Yoshiharu Nakayama
Da Liu
Taiga Goto
Yasuyuki Yamashita
Shinichi Hori
Publication date
01-04-2006
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 4/2006
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-0012-5

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