Image Quality Evaluation in Dual-Energy CT of the Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis in Obese Patients With Deep Learning Image Reconstruction. Issue 4 (27th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fair, Eric; Profio, Mark; Kulkarni, Naveen; Laviolette, Peter S.; Barnes, Bret; Bobholz, Samuel; Levenhagen, Maureen; Ausman, Robin; Griffin, Michael O.; Duvnjak, Petar; Zorn, Adam P.; Foley, W. Dennis
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer assisted tomography. Volume 46:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 604
• Page End: 611
• Publication Date: 2022-07-27
• Subjects: dual-energy CT -- deep learning -- image reconstruction; Tomography -- Periodicals; Tomography -- Periodicals; Tomography; Periodicals; 616.0757
• DOI: 10.1097/RCT.0000000000001316
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-8715

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate image quality in vascular and oncologic dual-energy computed tomography (CT) imaging studies performed with a deep learning (DL)–based image reconstruction algorithm in patients with body mass index of ≥30. Methods: Vascular and multiphase oncologic staging dual-energy CT examinations were evaluated. Two image reconstruction algorithms were applied to the dual-energy CT data sets: standard of care Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASiR-V) and TrueFidelity DL image reconstruction at 2 levels (medium and high). Subjective quality criteria were independently evaluated by 4 abdominal radiologists, and interreader agreement was assessed. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio were compared between image reconstruction methods. Results: Forty-eight patients were included in this study, and the mean patient body mass index was 39.5 (SD, 7.36). TrueFidelity-High (DL-High) and TrueFidelity-Medium (DL-Med) image reconstructions showed statistically significant higher Likert scores compared with ASiR-V across all subjective image quality criteria ( P < 0.001 for DL-High vs ASiR-V; P < 0.05 for DL-Med vs ASiR-V), and SNRs for aorta and liver were significantly higher for DL-High versus ASiR-V ( P < 0.001). Contrast-to-noise ratio for aorta and SNR for aorta and liver were significantly higher for DL-Med versus ASiR-V ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: TrueFidelity DL image reconstruction provides improved image quality compared with ASiR-V in dual-energy CTs obtained in obese patients.