Effect of a noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic reconstruction technique on dual-energy CT for image quality of inflammatory bowel disease.
10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2018.08.009
- Author:
Haitao YANG
1
;
Xiong WU
1
;
Bo JIANG
1
;
Kai DENG
1
;
Jianning SUN
1
;
Xilong MEI
1
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Female;
Humans;
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases;
diagnostic imaging;
Male;
Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted;
Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection;
methods;
Reproducibility of Results;
Retrospective Studies;
Signal-To-Noise Ratio;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed;
methods
- From:
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences)
2018;43(8):875-881
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
To assess the value of noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI+) reconstruction technique on objective and subjective image quality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing abdominal dual-energy computed tomography (DECT).
Methods: Datasets from 32 patients (22 men, 10 women) with IBD, who underwent abdominal DECT, were reconstructed by using the standard linearly blended (M_0.6), traditional monoenergetic (VMI) and VMI+ algorithms in 10-keV intervals from 40-100 keV. Attenuation in IBD lesions was measured to perform objective evaluation using signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR). Subjective evaluation was performed by 3 independent blinded radiologists using 5-point Likert scales. The overall image quality, image sharpness, lesion delineation, and image noise were analyzed.
Results: Mean SNR and CNR peaked at 40 keV VMI+ series (SNR 8.28±2.34, CNR 5.10±2.10) and they were significantly higher than those in linearly blended (SNR 5.82±1.44, CNR 1.53±0.86) and all VMI series (all P<0.01). Subjective image parameter was the highest for the 50 keV VMI+ series regarding overall image quality (mean 4.80, all P<0.01). The highest image sharpness scores were observed at 40 and 50 keV VMI+ reconstructions (mean 4.14 and 4.25, respectively; P=0.415). VMI+ series at 40 keV provided the highest lesion delineation (mean 4.52, all P<0.01). Image noise was low at the 100 keV VMI+ and VMI series (mean 4.58 and 4.40, respectively; P≥0.11).
Conclusion: Low-keV VMI+ reconstructions improves SNR, CNR, and subjective image quality significantly in patients with IBD.
