Comparative evaluation of dual-layer spectral CT protocols for mouse chest imaging

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Preclinical Research
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Spectral CT offers high-precision tissue contrast for mouse lung disease monitoring.
• A standardized parameter framework for spectral CT mouse lung imaging is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of filtering, slice thickness, and spectral parameters on mouse chest CT image quality.
• To establish an optimal parameter framework for spectral CT imaging in mouse lung studies.

Main Methods:

• Philips spectral CT scans were performed on 30 C57BL/6 mice (20, 25, 30 g).
• Six filter settings and two slice thicknesses (0.67 mm) were evaluated for multi-dimensional reconstruction.
• Quantitative (CT value, noise, SNR, CNR) and qualitative (VMI, VNC, z-effective maps) image quality metrics were assessed.

Main Results:

• YC/YD filters yielded superior image sharpness but increased noise levels.
• 0.67 mm slice thickness was qualitatively preferred.
• 40-keV VMIs showed better qualitative quality, despite lower quantitative SNR and CNR.

Conclusions:

• A discrepancy exists between qualitative and quantitative image quality assessments in spectral CT mouse lung imaging.
• Optimal Philips spectral CT image quality for mouse chests is achieved by combining YC/YD filters, 0.67 mm slice thickness, and 40-keV VMIs.