Evaluation of Low-Contrast Detectability of Iterative Reconstruction across Multiple Institutions, CT Scanner Manufacturers, and Radiation Exposure Levels.
Published
Journal Article
PURPOSE: To compare image resolution from iterative reconstruction with resolution from filtered back projection for low-contrast objects on phantom computed tomographic (CT) images across vendors and exposure levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized repeat scans of an American College of Radiology CT accreditation phantom (module 2, low contrast) were performed for multiple radiation exposures, vendors, and vendor iterative reconstruction algorithms. Eleven volunteers were presented with 900 images by using a custom-designed graphical user interface to perform a task created specifically for this reader study. Results were analyzed by using statistical graphics and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Across three vendors (blinded as A, B, and C) and across three exposure levels, the mean correct classification rate was higher for iterative reconstruction than filtered back projection (P < .01): 87.4% iterative reconstruction and 81.3% filtered back projection at 20 mGy, 70.3% iterative reconstruction and 63.9% filtered back projection at 12 mGy, and 61.0% iterative reconstruction and 56.4% filtered back projection at 7.2 mGy. There was a significant difference in mean correct classification rate between vendor B and the other two vendors. Across all exposure levels, images obtained by using vendor B's scanner outperformed the other vendors, with a mean correct classification rate of 74.4%, while the mean correct classification rate for vendors A and C was 68.1% and 68.3%, respectively. Across all readers, the mean correct classification rate for iterative reconstruction (73.0%) was higher compared with the mean correct classification rate for filtered back projection (67.0%). CONCLUSION: The potential exists to reduce radiation dose without compromising low-contrast detectability by using iterative reconstruction instead of filtered back projection. There is substantial variability across vendor reconstruction algorithms.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Saiprasad, G; Filliben, J; Peskin, A; Siegel, E; Chen, J; Trimble, C; Yang, Z; Christianson, O; Samei, E; Krupinski, E; Dima, A
Published Date
- October 2015
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 277 / 1
Start / End Page
- 124 - 133
PubMed ID
- 25989480
Pubmed Central ID
- 25989480
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1527-1315
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1148/radiol.2015141260
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States