Breast phantom enhancement: Taguchi-type optimization for CT scan imaging quality and additive manufacturing...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• Optimizing CT scan parameters is crucial for diagnostic accuracy.
• Existing breast phantoms may not fully represent indigenous anatomical variations.
• Quantitative assessment of CT image quality requires standardized tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a customized indigenous breast phantom for CT scan optimization.
• To improve the spatial resolution and overall imaging quality of CT scans.
• To establish an optimal CT chest scan protocol using Taguchi's methodology.

Main Methods:

• A 3D-printed breast phantom was fabricated with specific components for resolution assessment.
• Taguchi's L18(21×34) orthogonal array was employed to design the experiment.
• Five CT parameters (kVp, mAs, FOV, Pitch, rotation time) were systematically varied.
• Radiologists evaluated image quality (sharpness, contrast, spatial resolution).
• A minimum detectable difference (MDD) metric was introduced for quantitative evaluation.

Main Results:

• The Taguchi approach facilitated the optimization of CT parameters.
• An optimal CT chest scan protocol was recommended: 120 kVp, 200 mAs, 350 mm² FOV, 0.516 pitch, and 0.75s rotation time.
• The customized phantom enabled quantitative assessment of imaging performance.
• The developed method achieved a resolution capability of approximately 1.57 mm.

Conclusions:

• A customized indigenous breast phantom effectively aids in optimizing CT scan protocols.
• Taguchi's methodology provides a systematic approach to enhance CT image quality.
• The recommended protocol balances imaging performance with the ALARA principle.
• The MDD metric offers a valuable tool for evaluating CT imaging resolution.