Assessment of a New CT Detector and Filtration Technology: Part 2-Image Quality in Phantoms, Cadavers, and Patients

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the image quality of a commercial CT scanner equipped with a novel detector and filtration technology called PureVision Optics (PVO).

CT number, noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), modulation transfer function (MTF), and noise power spectrum (NPS) were assessed using the ACR CT Accreditation phantom scanned with various acquisitions at 80 kV, 100 kV, 120 kV, and 135 kV, each with multiple CTDI vol values of 20 mGy, 40 mGy, and 65 mGy. Artifacts were evaluated in an anthropomorphic head phantom, a cadaver head, and in patient studies. Two neuroradiologists assessed image quality features in various patients who were examined with unenhanced brain CT on both scanners.

Compared with the conventional scanner, for the same CTDI vol , the PVO scanner produced 20.3% less image noise ( P  < 0.001), 18.9% higher CNR ( P  < 0.01), and 24.6% higher spatial resolution ( P  < 0.001). Streak artifacts were less severe with the PVO scanner for the phantom, cadaver, and patient scans ( P  < 0.05). Radiologists scored the PVO scanner as significantly better for visualization of the cerebrospinal fluid space over the cerebral sulci in high convexity, image noise in gray and white matter, and artifacts in the posterior fossa. They also significantly preferred the PVO scanner for visualization of the border between brain gray and white matter, cerebrospinal fluid space around the mesencephalon, and overall diagnostic acceptability.

For matched CTDI vol values, the scanner equipped with PVO technology produced better objective and subjective image quality metrics in brain CT imaging compared with a conventional CT scanner without PVO. In clinical settings, PVO may allow for lower doses while enhancing imaging through dense areas, improving visualization of subtle details, and offering more effective options for examining obese patients.This research received financial support from Canon Medical Systems USA. The study design and data were fully controlled by the coauthors, of which none are employees or consultants of Canon Medical Systems USA.