Method for determining slice sensitivity profile of iterative reconstruction CT images using low-contrast sphere...

A novel method for measuring the slice sensitivity profile (SSP) of computed tomography (CT) images reconstructed using an iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithm is proposed herein. A phantom that included a low-contrast spherical object was scanned and consecutive cross-sectional images were reconstructed. The mean CT values in a region including the sphere were measured for all images and plotted as a function of slice position along the longitudinal [Formula: see text] direction to yield a mean CT value profile [Formula: see text]. Next, we numerically generated an object function corresponding to the sphere and obtained the mean CT value profile [Formula: see text]. Subsequently, the SSP was modeled as a product of the Gaussian and cosine functions. We convolved [Formula: see text] with the modeled SSP to obtain [Formula: see text]. The difference between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] was evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE), which was minimized via optimization of the SSP model parameters. To validate the methodology, we first used filtered back projection (FBP) images to compare the SSPs determined using the proposed and standard coin methods. Subsequently, the proposed method was applied to measure the SSPs of four types of IR algorithms in two scanners. The SSPs of the FBP images determined using the proposed and coin methods showed good agreement. Additionally, in the SSP measurements using the proposed method, [Formula: see text] agreed well with [Formula: see text] for every IR algorithm. The RMSEs for all measurements were less than 0.7 HU, indicating the accuracy of the SSPs. Thus, the proposed method is effective for obtaining valid SSPs.