Improving Image Quality for Lung Cancer Imaging With Optimal Monochromatic Energy Level in Dual Energy Spectral
Weishu Hou1, Xiangfang Sun, Yan Yin
1From the *Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai; †Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei; and ‡Department of CT and MRI, Zoucheng People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to find optimal monochromatic spectral computed tomography (CT) level to improve image quality of lung cancer.
Methods:
Fifty patients with lung cancers were scanned by spectral CT; monochromatic images at 50, 60, 70 and 80 keV energy levels were generated; and objective analysis including image noise, lesion-to-lung contrast-to-noise ratio, and CT number difference between central and peripheral regions of tumor (dCT value) were measured and compared. Subjective assessment about the overall image quality and inhomogeneity enhancement was compared.
Results:
The highest contrast-to-noise ratio value and subjective score of image quality were obtained at 70 keV, which were superior to those of 50- and 80-keV series (all P < 0.05). The subjective score of the inhomogeneity evaluation was peaked at 60-keV series and significantly higher than other energy levels (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Both objective and subjective image analysis of lung cancers may be improved with the combined observation of 60 keV and 70 keV monochromatic images in spectral CT.
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