Metal Artefact Reduction with Different Transverse Angles of Metal Placement and Gantry Tilt Angulation in Spine CT Imaging
- Author:
Noor Diyana Osman1, Nurhidayah Mohamad Suhaimi2, Halimatul Asma Saidun1, Mohd Amir Syahmi Mat Razali1,3, Nurul Fathin Mohd Sobri1
1
Author Information
1. 1 Oncological and Radiological Sciences Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia 2 Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Hospital Sultan Ismail, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia 3 Imaging Unit, Clinical Trial Complex, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 13200 Kepala Batas, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Computed tomography;
Gantry tilt angulation;
Metal artefact;
Postoperative spine imaging;
Transverse angle
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2019;15(SUPPLEMENT 9):1-6
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Abstract:Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) has been widely used for postoperative spine assessment. However, the effectiveness of CT is limited by the presence of multiple artefacts surrounding metal implants. An artefact causes degradation of image quality and obscures the interpretation of spine CT images by a radiologist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimum angle of gantry tilt and metal rod placement which produced the least metal artefact on CT images. Methods: A customised phantom was developed with different transverse angles of metal placement. The transverse angles of metal placement inside the phantom varied at 20°, 30°, 40° and 45°. The phantom was scanned with CT scanner at 0° axial scan angle. It was followed by acquisitions at different gantry tilt angles ranging from −12° to 20°. Quantitative and qualitative assessment by determining the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the CT images was performed. Results: The severity of the metal streak artefact increased as the metal insertion angles became wider up to 45° due to the widespread of streaking area. The severity of artefacts was reduced with the increment of the gantry tilt angle, which was observed in images acquired at 20°. Conclusion: For the gantry tilt angulation technique, the optimum gantry angle for metal artefact reduction is at the widest angle, which is +20° angulation. Although the gantry tilt technique did not eliminate the metal artefacts, it enabled a significant reduction of metal artefacts and improved image quality.
- Full text:11.2019my0489.pdf
