OBJECTIVE: To explore the high-risk fault risk of CT simulator and the main causes of the risk, and to put forward effective risk management strategies. METHODS: The failure mode and effect analysis method was used to identify and control the operational fault risk of CT simulator. RESULTS: 5 major fault components, 8 fault failure models and 17 failure causes were analyzed. The top 5 failure causes are:anode target surface burn caused by direct scanning without warming up the tube (590.4), tube failure (518.2), burnout of joints caused by aging of high voltage cables (424.2), motor carbon brush wear (304.8) and belt break (296.4). CONCLUSIONS The failure mode and effect analysis method can effectively identify the risk of equipment failure, and thus specifically formulate risk management and control measures to ensure the normal operation of equipment and the safety of doctors and patients.
Equipment Failure ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Risk Management ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; standards

Concerns have been raised over x-ray radiation dose associated with repeated computed tomography (CT) scans for tumor surveillance and radiotherapy planning. In this paper, we present a low-dose CT image reconstruction method for improving low-dose CT image quality. The method proposed exploited rich redundancy information from previous normal-dose scan image for optimizing the non-local weights construction in the original non-local means (NLM)-based low-dose image reconstruction. The objective 3D low-dose volume and the previous 3D normal-dose volume were first registered to reduce the anatomic structural dissimilarity between the two datasets, and the optimized non-local weights were constructed based on the registered normal-dose volume. To increase the efficiency of this method, GPU was utilized to accelerate the implementation. The experimental results showed that this method obviously improved the image quality, as compared with the original NLM method, by suppressing the noise-induced artifacts and preserving the edge information.
Algorithms ; Artifacts ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiation Protection ; standards ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; standards ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

This review article comprehensively discusses multidetector CT urography protocols and their role in imaging of the urinary tract in patients with hematuria.
Hematuria/etiology/*radiography ; Human ; Incidental Findings ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods/standards ; Urinary Tract/abnormalities ; Urography/methods/standards ; Urologic Diseases/complications/congenital/radiography

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of different methods for image registration in image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) for cervical cancer. METHODS: The last treatment planning CT images (CT1) and the first treatment planning CT images (CT2) were acquired from 15 patients with cervical cancer and registered with different match image qualities (retained/removed catheter source in images) and different match regions [target only (S Group)/ interested organ structure (M Group)/body (L Group)] in Velocity3.2 software. The dice similarity coefficient (DSC) between the clinical target volumes (CTV) of the CT1 and CT2 images (CTVCT1 and CTVCT2, respectively) and between the organs-at-risk (OAR) of the two imaging datasets (OARCT1 and OARCT2, respectively) were used to evaluate the image registration accuracy. RESULTS: The auto-segmentation volume of the catheter source using Velocity software based on the CT threshold was the closest to the actual volume within the CT value range of 1700-1800 HU. In the retained group, the DSC for the OARs of was better than or equal to that of the removed group, and the DSC value of the rectum was significantly improved ( < 0.05). For comparison of different match regions, the high-risk target volume (HRCTV) and the low-risk target volume (IRCTV) had the best precision for registration of the target area, which was significantly greater than that of M group and L group ( < 0.05). The M group had better registration accuracy of the target area and the best accuracy for the OARs. The DSC values of the bladder and rectum were significantly better than those of the other two groups ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The CT value range of 1700-1800 HU is optimal for automatic image segmentation using Velocity software. Automatic segmentation and shielding the volume of the catheter source can improve the image quality. We recommend the use of interested organ structures regions for image registration in image-guided adaptive brachytherapy for cervical cancer.
Brachytherapy ; methods ; standards ; Female ; Humans ; Organs at Risk ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; standards ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided ; methods ; standards ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; standards ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy

Digital Image Communication in Medicine (DICOM) defines a standard method to store and transmit digital medical image information, in which there is a piece of implemented protocol named DICOM-RT that specially addresses both the transmission of radiation therapy image data and the ancillary data. In this paper, we firstly introduce the DICOM-RT with the emphases on its components, relationship with radiotherapy and how to produce the DICOM-RT object that refer to some certain radiotherapy information. Then we expatiate on the impact that benefits from applying DICOM-RT to radiotherapy, with an aid to accelerate its application in China.
Automatic Data Processing ; Computer Communication Networks ; Humans ; Radiology Information Systems ; standards ; Radiotherapy ; standards ; trends ; Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Lung cancer is the most common tumor and one of the malignant tumors with the lowest livability after diagnosis, as is known so far. Large-scale image database is the foundation of developing computer-aided diagnosis methods, education and training in lung cancer diagnosis to improve medical diagnostic efficiency and to reduce the doctors' burden. In this study, aiming at improving the low data storage efficiency and solving the lacking of tool for data visualization and data retrieval existing in the use of traditional Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) from the lung cancer database, we developed a new lung cancer image database platform including an improved data model, a data integration tool, an image and annotation visualization tool and a data retrieving component. Firstly, the data format in LIDC was analyzed and an improved information model was provided to manage and manipulate large amount data stored in it. Next, some tools such as data integration component, DICOM, image and annotation visualization tool, and data query were designed and implemented. The study demonstrated that the lung cancer image database platform had the capacity of data collection, visualization, and query, and could promote diagnose lung cancer research.
Algorithms ; Databases, Factual ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Humans ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; methods ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; standards

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the adaptive iterative dose reduction (AIDR) three-dimensional (3D) algorithm in CT on noise reduction and the image quality compared to the filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm and to compare the effectiveness of AIDR 3D on noise reduction according to the body habitus using phantoms with different sizes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three different-sized phantoms with diameters of 24 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm were built up using the American College of Radiology CT accreditation phantom and layers of pork belly fat. Each phantom was scanned eight times using different mAs. Images were reconstructed using the FBP and three different strengths of the AIDR 3D. The image noise, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the phantom were assessed. Two radiologists assessed the image quality of the 4 image sets in consensus. The effectiveness of AIDR 3D on noise reduction compared with FBP were also compared according to the phantom sizes. RESULTS: Adaptive iterative dose reduction 3D significantly reduced the image noise compared with FBP and enhanced the SNR and CNR (p < 0.05) with improved image quality (p < 0.05). When a stronger reconstruction algorithm was used, greater increase of SNR and CNR as well as noise reduction was achieved (p < 0.05). The noise reduction effect of AIDR 3D was significantly greater in the 40-cm phantom than in the 24-cm or 30-cm phantoms (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The AIDR 3D algorithm is effective to reduce the image noise as well as to improve the image-quality parameters compared by FBP algorithm, and its effectiveness may increase as the phantom size increases.
*Algorithms ; Animals ; Body Size ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/*methods ; *Phantoms, Imaging/standards ; Radiation Dosage ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal/*radiography ; Swine ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

The development of cardiac CT has provided a non-invasive alternative to echocardiography, exercise electrocardiogram, and invasive angiography and cardiac CT continues to develop at an exponential speed even now. The appropriate use of cardiac CT may lead to improvements in the medical performances of physicians and can reduce medical costs which eventually contribute to better public health. However, until now, there has been no guideline regarding the appropriate use of cardiac CT in Korea. We intend to provide guidelines for the appropriate use of cardiac CT in heart diseases based on scientific data. The purpose of this guideline is to assist clinicians and other health professionals in the use of cardiac CT for diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases, especially in patients at high risk or suspected of heart disease.
Chest Pain/*diagnosis/radiography ; Exercise ; Heart/radiography ; Heart Diseases/diagnosis/*radiography ; Humans ; Republic of Korea ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/instrumentation/*methods/*standards

Accurate pre-operative localization and removal of disc material are important for minimizing morbidity in dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusions. Computed tomography (CT) is an established technique for localizing disc extrusions in dogs, however the effect of multi-planar reformatting (MPR) on surgeon diagnostic performance has not been previously described. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of MPR CT on surgeon diagnostic accuracy, certainty and agreement for localizing thoracolumbar disc extrusions in dogs. Two veterinary surgeons and one veterinary neurologist who were unaware of surgical findings independently reviewed randomized sets of two-dimensional (2D) and MPR CT images from 111 dogs with confirmed thoracolumbar disc extrusions. For each set of images, readers recorded their localizations for extruded disc material and their diagnostic certainty. For MPR images, readers also recorded views they considered most helpful. Diagnostic accuracy estimates, mean diagnostic certainty scores and inter-observer agreement were compared using surgery as the gold standard. Frequencies were compared for MPR views rated most helpful. Diagnostic accuracy estimates were significantly greater for MPR vs. 2D CT images in one reader. Mean diagnostic certainty scores were significantly greater for MPR images in two readers. The change in agreement between 2D and MPR images differed from zero for all analyses (site, side, number affected) among all three readers. Multi-planar views rated most helpful with the highest frequency were oblique transverse and curved dorsal planar MPR views. Findings from this study indicate that multi-planar CT can improve surgeon diagnostic performance for localizing canine thoracolumbar disc extrusions.
Animals ; Decision Making ; Dog Diseases/*radiography ; Dogs ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/*methods/standards ; Intervertebral Disk Displacement/radiography/*veterinary ; Male ; Observer Variation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Forty canine patients with a presumptive diagnosis of the intervertebral disc herniation at the thoracolumbar region were imaged. A neurological examination was performed and all patients were classified under four grades by the examination. The degrees of attenuation of the herniated disc material were measured in Housefield units (HU) in each image. The ratio of the area to herniated disc material and the height to disc material were measured. The clinical grade was correlated with the area ratio of the herniated disc material to the spinal cord, but not correlated with the height ratio of that. In the patients with epidural hemorrhage at surgery, HUs of the herniated disc material was lower than those with no epidural hemorrhage at surgery. Non-contrast computed tomography scans of the spine can be useful in diagnosing acute intervertebral disc disease in chondrodystrophoid breeds, evaluating patient status and identifying concurrent epidural hemorrhage.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/*pathology/radiography ; Dogs ; Intervertebral Disk Displacement/radiography/*veterinary ; Lumbar Vertebrae/*pathology/radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Vertebrae/*pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods/standards/*veterinary