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Published in: European Radiology 2/2022

01-02-2022 | Computed Tomography | Computed Tomography

Dose reduction potential of vendor-agnostic deep learning model in comparison with deep learning–based image reconstruction algorithm on CT: a phantom study

Authors: Hyunsu Choi, Won Chang, Jong Hyo Kim, Chulkyun Ahn, Heejin Lee, Hae Young Kim, Jungheum Cho, Yoon Jin Lee, Young Hoon Kim

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 2/2022

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Abstract

Objectives

To compare the dose reduction potential (DRP) of a vendor-agnostic deep learning model (DLM, ClariCT.AI) with that of a vendor-specific deep learning–based image reconstruction algorithm (DLR, TrueFidelity™).

Methods

Computed tomography (CT) images of a multi-sized image quality phantom (Mercury v4.0) were acquired under six radiation dose levels (0.48/0.97/1.93/3.87/7.74/15.47 mGy) and were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP) and three strength levels of the DLR (low/medium/high). The FBP images were denoised using the DLM. For all DLM and DLR images, the detectability index (d′) (a task-based detection performance metric) was obtained, under various combinations of three target sizes (10/5/1 mm), five inlets (CT value difference with the background; −895/50/90/335/1000 HU), five phantom diameters (36/31/26/21/16 cm), and six radiation dose levels. Dose reduction potential (DRP) measures the dose reduction made by using DLM or DLR, while yielding d′ equivalent to that of FBP at full dose.

Results

The DRPs of the DLM, DLR-low, DLR-medium, and DLR-high were 86% (81–88%), 60% (46–67%), 76% (60–81%), and 87% (78–92%), respectively. For 10-mm targets, the DRP of the DLM (87%) was higher than that of all DLR algorithms (58–86%). However, for smaller targets (5 mm/1 mm), the DRPs of the DLR-high (89/88%) were greater than those of the DLM (87/84%).

Conclusion

The dose reduction potential of the vendor-agnostic DLM was shown to be comparable to that of the vendor-specific DLR at high strength and superior to those of the DLRs at medium and low strengths.

Key Points

DRP of the vendor-agnostic model was comparable to that of high-strength vendor-specific model and superior to those of medium- and low-strength models.
Under various radiation dose levels, the deep learning model shows higher detectability indexes compared to FBP.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Dose reduction potential of vendor-agnostic deep learning model in comparison with deep learning–based image reconstruction algorithm on CT: a phantom study
Authors
Hyunsu Choi
Won Chang
Jong Hyo Kim
Chulkyun Ahn
Heejin Lee
Hae Young Kim
Jungheum Cho
Yoon Jin Lee
Young Hoon Kim
Publication date
01-02-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-021-08199-9

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