AIM:To evaluate the effect of non-linear adaptive filters (NLAF) on abdominal computed tomography (CT) images acquired at different radiation dose levels.METHODS:Nineteen patients (mean age 61.6 ± 7.9 years,M:F=8...AIM:To evaluate the effect of non-linear adaptive filters (NLAF) on abdominal computed tomography (CT) images acquired at different radiation dose levels.METHODS:Nineteen patients (mean age 61.6 ± 7.9 years,M:F=8:11) gave informed consent for an Institutional Review Board approved prospective study involving acquisition of 4 additional image series (200,150,100,50 mAs and 120 kVp) on a 64 slice multidetector row CT scanner over an identical 10 cm length in the abdomen.The CT images acquired at 150,100 and 50 mAs were processed with the NLAF.Two radiologists reviewed unprocessed and processed images for image quality in a blinded randomized manner.CT dose index volume,dose length product,patient weight,transverse diameters,objective noise and CT numbers wererecorded.Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance and Wilcoxon signed rank test.RESULTS:Of the 31 lesions detected in abdominal CT images,28 lesions were less than 1 cm in size.Subjective image noise was graded as unacceptable in unprocessed images at 50 and 100 mAs,and in NLAF processed images at 50 mAs only.In NLAF processed images,objective image noise was decreased by 21% (14.4 ± 4/18.2 ± 4.9) at 150 mAs,28.3% (15.7 ± 5.6/21.9 ± 4) at 100 mAs and by 39.4% (18.8 ± 9/30.4 ± 9.2) at 50 mAs compared to unprocessed images acquired at respective radiation dose levels.At 100 mAs the visibility of smaller structures improved from suboptimal in unprocessed images to excellent in NLAF processed images,whereas diagnostic confidence was respectively improved from probably confident to fully confident.CONCLUSION:NLAF lowers image noise,improves the visibility of small structures and maintains lesion conspicuity at down to 100 mAs for abdominal CT.展开更多
AIM: To investigate effect of body dimensions obtained from localizer radiograph and transverse abdominal computed tomography(CT) images on Size Specific Dose Estimate. METHODS: This study was approved by Institutiona...AIM: To investigate effect of body dimensions obtained from localizer radiograph and transverse abdominal computed tomography(CT) images on Size Specific Dose Estimate. METHODS: This study was approved by Institutional Review Board and was compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Fifty patients with abdominal CT examinations(58 ± 13 years, Male: Female 28:22) were included in this study. Anteriorposterior(AP) and lateral(Lat) diameters were measured at 5 cm intervals from the CT exam localizer radiograph(simple X-ray image acquired for planning the CT exam before starting the scan) and transverse CT images. Average of measured AP and Lat diameters, as well as maximum, minimum and mid location AP and Lat were measured on both image sets. In addition, off centering of patients from the gantry iso-center was calculated from the localizers. Conversion factors from American Association of Physicists in Medicine(AAPM) report 204 were obtained for AP, Lat, AP + Lat, and effective diameter(√ AP * Lat) to determine size specificdose estimate(SSDE) from the CT dose index volume(CTDIvol) recorded from the dose reports. Data were analyzed using SPSS v19. RESULTS: Total number of 5376 measurements was done. In some patients entire body circumference was not covered on either projection radiograph or transverse CT images; hence accurate measurement of AP and Lat diameters was not possible in 11%(278/2488) of locations. Forty one patients were off-centered with mean of 1.9 ± 1.8 cm(range: 0.4-7 cm). Conversion factors for attained diameters were not listed on AAPM look-up tables in 3%(80/2488) of measurements. SSDE values were significantly different compared to CTDIvol, ranging from 32% lower to 74% greater than CTDIvol. CONCLUSION: There is underestimation and overestimation of dose comparing SSDE values to CTDIvol. Localizer radiographs are associated with overestimation of patient size and therefore underestimation of SSDE.展开更多
文摘AIM:To evaluate the effect of non-linear adaptive filters (NLAF) on abdominal computed tomography (CT) images acquired at different radiation dose levels.METHODS:Nineteen patients (mean age 61.6 ± 7.9 years,M:F=8:11) gave informed consent for an Institutional Review Board approved prospective study involving acquisition of 4 additional image series (200,150,100,50 mAs and 120 kVp) on a 64 slice multidetector row CT scanner over an identical 10 cm length in the abdomen.The CT images acquired at 150,100 and 50 mAs were processed with the NLAF.Two radiologists reviewed unprocessed and processed images for image quality in a blinded randomized manner.CT dose index volume,dose length product,patient weight,transverse diameters,objective noise and CT numbers wererecorded.Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance and Wilcoxon signed rank test.RESULTS:Of the 31 lesions detected in abdominal CT images,28 lesions were less than 1 cm in size.Subjective image noise was graded as unacceptable in unprocessed images at 50 and 100 mAs,and in NLAF processed images at 50 mAs only.In NLAF processed images,objective image noise was decreased by 21% (14.4 ± 4/18.2 ± 4.9) at 150 mAs,28.3% (15.7 ± 5.6/21.9 ± 4) at 100 mAs and by 39.4% (18.8 ± 9/30.4 ± 9.2) at 50 mAs compared to unprocessed images acquired at respective radiation dose levels.At 100 mAs the visibility of smaller structures improved from suboptimal in unprocessed images to excellent in NLAF processed images,whereas diagnostic confidence was respectively improved from probably confident to fully confident.CONCLUSION:NLAF lowers image noise,improves the visibility of small structures and maintains lesion conspicuity at down to 100 mAs for abdominal CT.
文摘AIM: To investigate effect of body dimensions obtained from localizer radiograph and transverse abdominal computed tomography(CT) images on Size Specific Dose Estimate. METHODS: This study was approved by Institutional Review Board and was compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Fifty patients with abdominal CT examinations(58 ± 13 years, Male: Female 28:22) were included in this study. Anteriorposterior(AP) and lateral(Lat) diameters were measured at 5 cm intervals from the CT exam localizer radiograph(simple X-ray image acquired for planning the CT exam before starting the scan) and transverse CT images. Average of measured AP and Lat diameters, as well as maximum, minimum and mid location AP and Lat were measured on both image sets. In addition, off centering of patients from the gantry iso-center was calculated from the localizers. Conversion factors from American Association of Physicists in Medicine(AAPM) report 204 were obtained for AP, Lat, AP + Lat, and effective diameter(√ AP * Lat) to determine size specificdose estimate(SSDE) from the CT dose index volume(CTDIvol) recorded from the dose reports. Data were analyzed using SPSS v19. RESULTS: Total number of 5376 measurements was done. In some patients entire body circumference was not covered on either projection radiograph or transverse CT images; hence accurate measurement of AP and Lat diameters was not possible in 11%(278/2488) of locations. Forty one patients were off-centered with mean of 1.9 ± 1.8 cm(range: 0.4-7 cm). Conversion factors for attained diameters were not listed on AAPM look-up tables in 3%(80/2488) of measurements. SSDE values were significantly different compared to CTDIvol, ranging from 32% lower to 74% greater than CTDIvol. CONCLUSION: There is underestimation and overestimation of dose comparing SSDE values to CTDIvol. Localizer radiographs are associated with overestimation of patient size and therefore underestimation of SSDE.
