Noise performance studies of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) as a function of kV, mA and exposure level: Impact on radiation dose reduction and image quality

Daniel Gomez-Cardona; Ke Li; Meghan G. Lubner; Perry J. Pickhardt M.D.; Guang-Hong Chen

doi:10.1117/12.2082334

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18 March 2015 Noise performance studies of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) as a function of kV, mA and exposure level: Impact on radiation dose reduction and image quality

Daniel Gomez-Cardona, Ke Li, Meghan G. Lubner, Perry J. Pickhardt M.D., Guang-Hong Chen

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Proceedings Volume 9412, Medical Imaging 2015: Physics of Medical Imaging; 941238 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2082334
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2015, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

The significance of understanding the noise properties of clinical CT systems is twofold: First, as the diagnostic performance (particularly for the detection of low contrast lesions) is strongly limited by noise, a thorough study of the dependence of image noise on scanning and reconstruction parameters would enable the desired image quality to be achieved with the least amount of radiation dose; Second, a clear understanding of the noise properties of CT systems would allow the limitations in existing CT systems to be identified and improved. The recent introduction of the model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) method has introduced strong nonlinearity to clinical CT systems and violated the classical relationship between CT noise properties and CT system parameters, therefore it is necessary to perform a comprehensive study on the noise properties of MBIR. The purpose of this study was to systematically study the dependence of the noise magnitude and noise texture of MBIR on x-ray tube potential (kV), tube current (mA), and radiation dose level. It has been found that the noise variance σ² of MBIR has relaxed dependence on kV and mA, which can be described as power-law relationships as σ²∝kV⁻¹ and σ² ∝ mA^−0.4, respectively. The shape of the noise power spectrum (NPS) demonstrated a strong dependence on kV and mA, but it remained constant as long as the radiation dose level was the same. These semi-empirical relationships can be potentially used to guide the optimal selection of kV and mA when prescribing CT scans with the maximal dose reduction.

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Daniel Gomez-Cardona, Ke Li, Meghan G. Lubner, Perry J. Pickhardt M.D., and Guang-Hong Chen "Noise performance studies of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) as a function of kV, mA and exposure level: Impact on radiation dose reduction and image quality", Proc. SPIE 9412, Medical Imaging 2015: Physics of Medical Imaging, 941238 (18 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2082334

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