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Published on: January 27, 2011
Improving image quality with model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm for chest CT in children with reduced
Jihang Sun1, Di Hu1, Yun Shen2
1Department of Radiology, Imaging Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 56, Nanlishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100045, China.
Insights
Model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) significantly enhances image quality in pediatric chest CT scans. This technique improves signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio while reducing contrast medium dose.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatric Imaging
Background:
- Pediatric chest CT often requires a balance between image quality and radiation dose.
- Reducing contrast medium (CM) concentration can impact image quality.
- Iterative reconstruction techniques aim to improve image quality at lower radiation doses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) in enhancing image quality for pediatric chest CT scans.
- To assess MBIR's performance with reduced contrast medium (CM) concentration.
- To compare MBIR with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-six children underwent low-dose enhanced chest CT with reduced CM (270 mgI/ml) at 100 kVp, reconstructed with 50% ASIR and MBIR.
- A control group of 56 children received standard chest CT (320 mgI/ml) at 120 kVp, reconstructed with ASIR only.
- Image quality was assessed subjectively (noise, enhancement, lesion conspicuity) and objectively (SNR, CNR).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in radiation dose between groups.
- The study group used 19.7% less CM, with diagnostic enhancement achieved.
- MBIR significantly reduced image noise by 58.6% and increased SNR (143.6%) and CNR (165.7%) compared to ASIR in the control group.
- ASIR images from both groups showed similar quality.
Conclusions:
- MBIR effectively improves image quality in low-radiation-dose pediatric chest CT.
- The use of MBIR allows for a reduction in contrast medium dose by 19.3% while maintaining diagnostic image quality.
- MBIR represents a valuable tool for optimizing pediatric chest CT protocols.
Objective:
To evaluate model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) in improving the image quality of chest CT in children with reduced concentration contrast medium (CM).
Methods:
Fifty-six children (median age of 4 years) who received low-dose enhanced chest CT were enrolled as the study group and compared with the control group of 56 children. Both groups used the automatic tube current modulation to achieve age-based noise index values of 11-15 HU. The study group used 100 kVp and reduced CM concentration of 270 mgI/ml, and the images in this group were reconstructed with 50% adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and MBIR. The control group used 120 kV and standard CM of 320 mgI/ml, and the images in this group were reconstructed with ASIR only. Subjective image quality and objective image quality of the three image sets were evaluated. The subjective quality included overall image noise, enhancement degree, lesion (including mediastinum mass, pulmonary space-occupying lesions, and parenchymal infiltrative lesions) conspicuity, and beam-hardening artifacts. The objective quality included the measurement of noise in the left ventricle and back muscle to calculate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of ventricle.
Results:
There was no difference in radiation dose between the study (CTDIvol of 1.79 ± 1.45 mGy) and control (1.68 ± 0.92 mGy) groups (p = 0.65). However, the study group used 19.7% lower CM dose than the control group (5.84 ± 2.69 vs. 7.27 ± 3.80 gI), and the enhancement in all images met the diagnostic requirements. MBIR reduced image noise by 58.6% and increased SNR and CNR by 143.6% and 165.7%, respectively, compared to ASIR images in the control group. The two ASIR image sets had similar image quality.
Conclusion:
MBIR improved the image quality of low-radiation-dose chest CT in children at 19.3% reduced CM dose.
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