Related Experiment Videos
Single-exposure dual-energy chest images with computed radiography. Evaluation with simulated pulmonary nodules
Rationale And Objectives:
Dual-energy subtraction radiography using computed radiography (CR) can aid in the detection of pulmonary abnormalities such as nodules, but the subtracted image requires higher x-ray exposure than usual to reduce quantum mottle. To reduce quantum mottle without increasing x-ray exposure, a new dual-energy subtraction algorithm was investigated that included an edge-adaptive smoothing process and a subtraction process. The signal-to-noise ratio and the image quality of this new subtracted image was significantly superior to that of conventional subtracted images.
Methods:
Observer performance of the subtracted digital radiography in detecting simulated pulmonary nodules was compared with original CR images and conventional subtracted digital radiography of 50 patients.
Results:
A combination of an original CR image and a new subtracted CR image was significantly superior to a single original CR image or a combination of an original CR image and a conventional subtracted CR image (P < .01).
Discussion:
The single-exposure dual-energy subtraction method is superior to the conventional subtraction method in the detection of pulmonary nodules.