Feasibility of improving the quality of children′s abdominal images using split-filter dual-energy CT
10.3760/cma.j.cn112271-20230213-00034
- VernacularTitle:利用同源双能CT(SF-DECT)提高儿童腹部图像质量的可行性研究
- Author:
Kun ZHANG
1
;
Xiang SHI
;
Shuangshuang XIE
;
Liying LIN
;
Yana DOU
;
Wen SHEN
Author Information
1. 天津市第一中心医院放射科 天津市影像医学研究所，天津 300192
- Keywords:
Dual-energy CT;
Child phantom;
Radiation dose;
Image quality
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection
2023;43(8):639-644
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To evaluate the effects of split-filter dual-energy CT (SF-DECT) in improving image quality at low doses in the process of abdominal examinations for children.Methods:A preliminary study was conducted using child phantoms. Furthermore, 20 children aged 4-6 years were recruited prospectively for clinical validation from June 2020 to December 2020. Conventional single-energy CT (SECT) and SF-DECT were employed to scan the abdominal areas of the phantoms and children. Then, the CT values, image noise, contrast to noise ratios (CNRs), and image subjective scores of SF-DECT and SECT were compared under various doses (1, 2, 3, and 4 mGy).Results:For the phantoms under doses of 3 and 4 mGy, SF-DECT decreased the image noise by 18.9% and 23.6%, respectively, and increased the liver and kidney CNRs (CNR liv and CNR kid) by 12.8% and 31.9% at most, respectively, compared to SECT ( Z = 3.00, 5.17, P < 0.001). For children, SF-DECT decreased image noise ( Z = 4.64, P < 0.001) and increased CNR liv and CNR kid ( Z = 3.78, 3.39, P < 0.001). For both the phantoms and the children, the subjective scores of images scanned using the SF-DECT were higher than those scanned using the SECT ( Z = 1.96-3.80, P < 0.05). Conclusions:Compared with SECT, SF-DECT can improve the quality of children′s abdominal images. This technique has a certain prospect of optimizing abdominal CT for children. However, it is necessary to conduct in-depth clinical research to verify the result.
