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BMC Medical Imaging
Published in: BMC Medical Imaging 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Computed Tomography | Research article

Value of virtual monochromatic spectral image of dual-layer spectral detector CT with noise reduction algorithm for image quality improvement in obese simulated body phantom

Authors: Hyo-Jin Kang, Jeong Min Lee, Sang Min Lee, Hyun Kyung Yang, Ri Hyeon Kim, Ju Gang Nam, Aruna Karnawat, Joon Koo Han

Published in: BMC Medical Imaging | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) may provide several theoretical advantages over pre-existing DECT approaches in terms of adjustment-free sampling number and dose modulation, beam hardening correction, and production spectral images by post-processing. In addition, by adopting noise reduction algorithm, high contrast resolution was expected even in low keV level. We surmised that this improvement would be beneficial to obese people. Therefore, our aim of study is to compare image quality of virtual monochromatic spectral images (VMI) and polychromatic images reconstructed from SDCT with different body size and radiation dose using anthropomorphic liver phantom.

Methods

One small and one large size of body phantoms, each containing eight (four high- and four low-contrast) simulated focal liver lesions (FLLs) were scanned by SDCT (at 120 kVp) using different Dose Right Indexes (DRIs). VMI were reconstructed from spectral base images from 40 keV to 200 keV. Hybrid iterative reconstruction (iDose4) was used for polychromatic image reconstruction. Image noise and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were compared. Five radiologists independently rated lesion conspicuity, diagnostic acceptability and subjective noise level in every image sets, and determined optimal keV level in VMI.

Results

Compare with conventional polychromatic images, VMI showed superior CNR at low keV level regardless of phantom size at every examined DRIs (Ps < 0.05). As body size increased, VMI had more gradual CNR decrease and noise increase than conventional polychromatic images. For low contrast FLLs in large phantom, lesion conspicuities at low radiation dose levels (DRI 16 and 19) were significantly increased in VMI (Ps < 0.05). Subjective image noise and diagnostic acceptabilities were significantly improved at VMI in both phantom size.

Conclusions

VMI of dual-layer spectral detector CT with noise reduction algorithm provides improved CNR, noise reduction, and better subjective image quality in imaging of obese simulated liver phantom compared with polychromatic images. This may hold promise for improving detection of liver lesions and improved imaging of obese patients.
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Metadata
Title
Value of virtual monochromatic spectral image of dual-layer spectral detector CT with noise reduction algorithm for image quality improvement in obese simulated body phantom
Authors
Hyo-Jin Kang
Jeong Min Lee
Sang Min Lee
Hyun Kyung Yang
Ri Hyeon Kim
Ju Gang Nam
Aruna Karnawat
Joon Koo Han
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Imaging / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2342
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-019-0367-8

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