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Updated: May 30, 2026
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Three-Dimensional Phase Resolved Functional Lung Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: June 21, 2024
Effect of mid-scan breathing changes on quality of 4DCT using a commercial phase-based sorting algorithm.
Camille E Noel1, Parag J Parikh
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Medical Physics
|July 23, 2011
Summary
Significant variations in breathing amplitude or frequency during four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans introduce image artifacts. Monitoring breathing statistics can help assess 4DCT scan quality before reconstruction.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
- Respiratory Motion Management
Background:
- Irregular breathing patterns are known to cause artifacts in four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT).
- Systematic exploration of breathing parameter variations' impact on 4DCT quality is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how variations in breathing wave parameters affect 4DCT imaging quality.
- To establish a method for assessing 4DCT scan quality based on breathing statistics.
Main Methods:
- A 4DCT motion platform with an acrylic sphere simulated lung cancer patient breathing.
- Respiratory surrogate data were sorted using a commercial phase-based algorithm.
- Breathing frequency (7.5-22 bpm) and amplitude (0.5-1.5 cm) were systematically varied.
Main Results:
- Amplitude changes of 25% or more consistently distorted sphere shape, position, and density.
- Frequency changes exceeding 50% demonstrated similar distortion trends.
- Evaluated distortions included centroid displacement, density homogeneity, and volumetric/geometric inaccuracies.
Conclusions:
- Basic breathing statistics can rapidly assess 4DCT scan quality before reconstruction.
- This assessment aids in managing irregular breathing during CT scanning.
- Identifying deviations helps determine appropriate actions for improving image quality.
