Assessment of image quality in abdominal computed tomography: Effect of model-based iterative reconstruction, multi-planar reconstruction and slice thickness on potential dose reduction. Issue 122 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kataria, Bharti; Nilsson Althén, Jonas; Smedby, Örjan; Persson, Anders; Sökjer, Hannibal; Sandborg, Michael
• Is Part Of: European journal of radiology. Issue 122(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: ADMIRE advanced modeled iterative reconstruction -- AD3 ADMIRE strength 3 -- AD5 ADMIRE strength 5 -- ALARA as low as reasonably achievable -- BMI body mass index -- CNR contrast-to-noise ratio -- CTDIvol volume CT dose index -- DLP dose-length-product -- DR dose reduction -- FBP filtered back projection -- HU hounsfield units -- IR iterative reconstruction -- MBIR model-based iterative reconstruction -- MPR multi-planar reconstruction -- NPS noise power spectrum -- Qref quality reference -- ROI region of interest -- SSDE size-specific dose estimate -- VGR Visual Grading Regression; Computed tomography -- Abdomen -- Iterative reconstruction -- Dose -- Slice thickness -- Multi-planar reconstruction (MPR); Medical radiology -- Periodicals; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiologie médicale -- Périodiques; Medical radiology; Periodicals; 616.075705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2019.108703
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0720-048X

Abstract

Highlights: ADMIRE strength 3 renders images of acceptable clinical quality in abdominal CT. For ADMIRE strength 5, dose reduction is limited to certain image criteria. ADMIRE strength 5 cannot be recommended to replace strength 3 in abdominal CT. Abstract: Purpose: To determine the effect of tube load, model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) strength and slice thickness in abdominal CT using visual comparison of multi-planar reconstruction images. Method: Five image criteria were assessed independently by four radiologists on two data sets at 42- and 98-mAs tube loads for 25 patients examined on a 192-slice dual-source CT scanner. Effect of tube load, MBIR strength, slice thickness and potential dose reduction was estimated with Visual Grading Regression (VGR). Objective image quality was determined by measuring noise (SD), contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratio and noise-power spectra (NPS). Results: Comparing 42- and 98-mAs tube loads, improved image quality was observed as a strong effect of log tube load regardless of MBIR strength ( p < 0.001). Comparing strength 5 to 3, better image quality was obtained for two criteria ( p < 0.01), but inferior for liver parenchyma and overall image quality. Image quality was significantly better for slice thicknesses of 2mm and 3mm compared to 1mm, with potential dose reductions between 24%–41%. As expected, with decrease in slice thickness and algorithm strength, the noise power and SD (HU-values) increased, while the CNR decreased. Conclusion: Increasing slice thickness from 1 mm to 2 mm or 3 mm allows for a possible dose reduction. MBIR strength 5 shows improved image quality for three out of five criteria for 1 mm slice thickness. Increasing MBIR strength from 3 to 5 has diverse effects on image quality. Our findings do not support a general recommendation to replace strength 3 by strength 5 in clinical abdominal CT protocols. However, strength 5 may be used in task-based protocols.