A mobile isocentric C-arm for intraoperative cone-beam CT: Technical assessment of dose and 3D imaging performance

To characterize the radiation dose and three-dimensional (3D) imaging performance of a recently developed mobile, isocentric C-arm equipped with a flat-panel detector (FPD) for intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) (Cios Spin 3D, Siemens Healthineers) and to identify potential improvements in 3D imaging protocols for pertinent imaging tasks.

The C-arm features a 30 × 30 cm² FPD and isocentric gantry with computer-controlled motorization of rotation (0-195°), angulation (±220°), and height (0-45 cm). Geometric calibration was assessed in terms of 9 degrees of freedom of the x-ray source and detector in CBCT scans, and the reproducibility of geometric calibration was evaluated. Standard and custom scan protocols were evaluated, with variation in the number of projections (100-400) and mAs per view (0.05-1.65 mAs). Image reconstruction was based on 3D filtered backprojection using "smooth," "normal," and "sharp" reconstruction filters as well as a custom, two-dimensional 2D isotropic filter. Imaging performance was evaluated in terms of uniformity, gray value correspondence with Hounsfield units (HU), contrast, noise (noise-power spectrum, NPS), spatial resolution (modulation transfer function, MTF), and noise-equivalent quanta (NEQ). Performance tradeoffs among protocols were visualized in anthropomorphic phantoms for various anatomical sites and imaging tasks.

Geometric calibration showed a high degree of reproducibility despite ~19 mm gantry flex over a nominal semicircular orbit. The dose for a CBCT scan varied from ~0.8-4.7 mGy for head protocols to ~6-38 mGy for body protocols. The MTF was consistent with sub-mm spatial resolution, with f₁₀ (frequency at which MTF = 10%) equal to 0.64 mm^-1 , 1.0 mm^-1 , and 1.5 mm^-1 for smooth, standard, and sharp filters respectively. Implementation of a custom 2D isotropic filter improved CNR ~ 50-60% for both head and body protocols and provided more isotropic resolution and noise characteristics. The NPS and NEQ quantified the 3D noise performance and provided a guide to protocol selection, confirmed in images of anthropomorphic phantoms. Alternative scan protocols were identified according to body site and task - for example, lower-dose body protocols (<3 mGy) sufficient for visualization of bone structures.

The studies provided objective assessment of the dose and 3D imaging performance of a new C-arm, offering an important basis for clinical deployment and a benchmark for quality assurance. Modifications to standard 3D imaging protocols were identified that may improve performance or reduce radiation dose for pertinent imaging tasks.