[Simulation Image Generation Used to Produce Contrast-detail Diagram in X-ray CT]

To propose a method for generating simulated images that are used to produce a contrast detail (C-D) diagram in X-ray computed tomography (CT).

We numerically generated object functions assuming ideal spheres of 7 diameters and 9 contrasts between sphere density and background density. Sphere images were calculated from the object functions by the simulation technique of image blurring based on the 3-dimensional spatial resolution measured in the CT system. The calculated sphere images were added in images of the uniform water-equivalent section of a phantom acquired at different tube currents. Obtained images were arranged according to the sphere diameter and contrast and were applied to produce the C-D diagram. For each tube current, the C-D diagram was created by a board-certified diagnostic radiologist.

The calculated sphere images showed good agreements with actually acquired sphere images of the phantom. Standard deviations (SDs) in subtraction images of them were equivalent to the SD in the background region of the actual image, suggesting the accuracy of the calculated sphere images. The obtained C-D diagram showed that smaller spheres and spheres with lower contrast tended to be detected as the tube current increased.

The proposed method was suggested to be feasible for producing the C-D diagram for CT.