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Graham SA, Moseley DJ, Siewerdsen JH, Jaffray DA. Compensators for dose and scatter management in cone-beam computed tomography. Med Phys 2016; 34:2691-703. [PMID: 17821977 DOI: 10.1118/1.2740466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of compensators (e.g., bow-tie filters) designed for kV cone-beam computed tomography (CT) to reduce both scatter reaching the detector and dose to the patient is investigated. Scattered x rays reaching the detector are widely recognized as one of the most significant challenges to cone-beam CT imaging performance. With cone-beam CT gaining popularity as a method of guiding treatments in radiation therapy, any methods that have the potential to reduce the dose to patients and/or improve image quality should be investigated. Simple compensators with a design that could realistically be implemented on a cone-beam CT imaging system have been constructed to determine the magnitude of reduction of scatter and/or dose for various cone-beam CT imaging conditions. Depending on the situation, the compensators were shown to reduce x-ray scatter at the detector and dose to the patient by more than a factor of 2. Further optimization of the compensators is a possibility to achieve greater reductions in both scatter and dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Graham
- Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
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Abstract
Antiscatter grids improve the X-ray image contrast at a cost of patient radiation doses. The choice of appropriate grid or its removal requires a good knowledge of grid characteristics, especially for pediatric digital imaging. The aim of this work is to understand the relation between grid performance parameters and some numerical image quality metrics for digital radiological examinations. The grid parameters such as bucky factor (BF), selectivity (Σ), Contrast improvement factor (CIF), and signal-to-noise improvement factor (SIF) were determined following the measurements of primary, scatter, and total radiations with a digital fluoroscopic system for the thicknesses of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm polymethyl methacrylate blocks at the tube voltages of 70, 90, and 120 kVp. Image contrast for low- and high-contrast objects and high-contrast spatial resolution were measured with simple phantoms using the same scatter thicknesses and tube voltages. BF and SIF values were also calculated from the images obtained with and without grids. The correlation coefficients between BF values obtained using two approaches (grid parameters and image quality metrics) were in good agreement. Proposed approach provides a quick and practical way of estimating grid performance for different digital fluoroscopic examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dogan Bor
- Department of Physics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Birgul
- Department of Medical Physics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Ankara University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Umran Onal
- Department of Medical Physics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Ankara University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Turan Olgar
- Department of Physics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
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Effects of tube potential and scatter rejection on image quality and effective dose in digital chest X-ray examination: An anthropomorphic phantom study. Radiography (Lond) 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2013.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Lo WY, Hornof WJ, Zwingenberger AL, Robertson ID. Multiscale image processing and antiscatter grids in digital radiography. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2009; 50:569-76. [PMID: 19999338 DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2009.01585.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Scatter radiation is a source of noise and results in decreased signal-to-noise ratio and thus decreased image quality in digital radiography. We determined subjectively whether a digitally processed image made without a grid would be of similar quality to an image made with a grid but without image processing. Additionally the effects of exposure dose and of a using a grid with digital radiography on overall image quality were studied. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs of five dogs of various sizes were made. Four acquisition techniques were included (1) with a grid, standard exposure dose, digital image processing; (2) without a grid, standard exposure dose, digital image processing; (3) without a grid, half the exposure dose, digital image processing; and (4) with a grid, standard exposure dose, no digital image processing (to mimic a film-screen radiograph). Full-size radiographs as well as magnified images of specific anatomic regions were generated. Nine reviewers rated the overall image quality subjectively using a five-point scale. All digitally processed radiographs had higher overall scores than nondigitally processed radiographs regardless of patient size, exposure dose, or use of a grid. The images made at half the exposure dose had a slightly lower quality than those made at full dose, but this was only statistically significant in magnified images. Using a grid with digital image processing led to a slight but statistically significant increase in overall quality when compared with digitally processed images made without a grid but whether this increase in quality is clinically significant is unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie Y Lo
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Liu X, Lai CJ, Chen L, Han T, Zhong Y, Shen Y, Wang T, Shaw CC. Scan equalization digital radiography (SEDR) implemented with an amorphous selenium flat-panel detector: initial experience. Phys Med Biol 2009; 54:6959-78. [PMID: 19887717 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/54/22/014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
It is well recognized in projection radiography that low-contrast detectability suffers in heavily attenuating regions due to excessively low x-ray fluence to the image receptor and higher noise levels. Exposure equalization can improve image quality by increasing the x-ray exposure to heavily attenuating regions, resulting in a more uniform distribution of exposure to the detector. Image quality is also expected to be improved by using the slot-scan geometry to reject scattered radiation effectively without degrading primary x-rays. This paper describes the design of a prototype scan equalization digital radiography (SEDR) system implemented with an amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film transistor (TFT) array-based flat-panel detector. With this system, slot-scan geometry with alternate line erasure and readout (ALER) technique was used to achieve scatter rejection. A seven-segment beam height modulator assembly was mounted onto the fore collimator to regulate exposure regionally for chest radiography. The beam modulator assembly, consisting of micro linear motors, lead screw cartridge with lead (Pb) beam blockers attached, position feedback sensors and motor driver circuitry, has been tested and found to have an acceptable response for exposure equalization in chest radiography. An anthropomorphic chest phantom was imaged in the posterior-anterior (PA) view under clinical conditions. Scatter component, primary x-rays, scatter-to-primary ratios (SPRs) and primary signal-to-noise ratios (PSNRs) were measured in the SEDR images to evaluate the rejection and redistribution of scattered radiation, and compared with those for conventional full-field imaging with and without anti-scatter grid methods. SPR reduction ratios (SPRRRs, defined as the differences between the non-grid full-field SPRs and the reduced SPRs divided by the former) yielded approximately 59% for the full-field imaging with grid and 82% for the SEDR technique in the lungs, and 77% for the full-field imaging with grid and 95% for the SEDR technique in the subdiaphragm. The SEDR technique demonstrated a substantial improvement in PSNRs over the anti-scatter grid technique. The improvements of PSNRs varied with the regions and are more pronounced in heavily attenuating regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinming Liu
- Department of Imaging Physics, Digital Imaging Research Laboratory, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA.
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Moore CS, Saunderson JR, Beavis AW. Investigating the exposure class of a computed radiography system for optimisation of physical image quality for chest radiography. Br J Radiol 2009; 82:705-10. [PMID: 19221185 DOI: 10.1259/bjr/27942950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the exposure (speed) class (EC) of an Agfa computed radiography (CR) system could be used to optimise chest radiography. The frequency-dependent normalised noise-power spectra (NNPS(f)) were determined for a range of EC settings (25-1200) for a receptor dose of 4 microGy. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were measured in the lung, heart and diaphragm areas of a chest phantom with ECs of 400 and 600 at four tube voltages (60, 75, 90 and 125 kVp). As anatomical background can be a factor in detection of lung nodules, a tissue to rib ratio (TRR), which measures the ratio of pixel values in the nodule to that of rib, was measured in the lung region of the phantom to assess the suppression of the rib at ECs of 400 and 600. The NNPS(f) at ECs lower than 400 was relatively high. The NNPS(f) at EC 600 was found to be 7% lower when averaged over all frequencies than that at EC 400. The statistical significance of this difference was verified. The EC 800 and EC 1200 settings offered no extra advantages in terms of lowering frequency-dependent noise. The EC 600 setting offered improvements in SNR of between 10% and 18% in the lung, 11% and 16% in the heart, and 15% and 20% in the diaphragm compared with EC 400. Statistical analysis verified the significant difference. The EC 600 setting increased the TRR, thereby helping to suppress rib. This work indicates that an exposure class setting of 600 is the most appropriate for standard chest radiography, but clinical verification is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Moore
- Radiation Physics Department, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals, Oncology Centre, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
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Roberts JA, Evans SC, Rees M. Optimisation of imaging technique used in direct digital radiography. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2006; 26:287-99. [PMID: 16926471 DOI: 10.1088/0952-4746/26/3/003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to optimise the technique employed for AP shoulder and lateral cervical spine examinations following an investigation into image quality, based on clinical assessment, and effective dose, calculated from patient entrance surface dose measurements. A study was therefore conducted in an attempt to determine whether the increased radiation dose to the patient following the introduction of an anti-scatter grid was justified by the level of improvement in image quality. The study, involving 100 patients, was able to demonstrate that the increase in radiation dose to the patient when using an anti-scatter grid for AP shoulder examinations is not justified by the improved image quality. A poor level of inter-rater reliability between the consultants scoring the lateral cervical spine images prevented a firm conclusion from being reached. The fact that all images were of diagnostic quality, however, suggested that the use of the anti-scatter grid was unnecessary. Following completion of the project the hospital involved was informed of all findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Roberts
- Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Singleton Hospital, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK
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Veldkamp WJH, Kroft LJM, Boot MV, Mertens BJA, Geleijns J. Contrast-detail evaluation and dose assessment of eight digital chest radiography systems in clinical practice. Eur Radiol 2006; 16:333-41. [PMID: 16132918 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-005-2887-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2005] [Revised: 06/27/2005] [Accepted: 07/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess contrast-detail performance and effective dose of eight different digital chest radiography systems. Digital chest radiography systems from different manufacturers were included: one storage phosphor system, one selenium-coated drum system, and six direct readout systems including four thin-film transistor (TFT) systems and two charge-coupled device (CCD) systems. For measuring image quality, a contrast-detail test object was used in combination with a phantom that simulates the primary and scatter transmission through lung fields (LucAl). Six observers judged phantom images of each modality by soft-copy reading in a four-alternative-forced-choice experiment. The entrance dose was also measured, and the effective dose was calculated for an average patient. Contrast-detail curves were constructed from the observer data. The blocked two-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. Significant difference in contrast-detail performance was found between the systems. Best contrast-detail performance was shown by a CCD system with slot-scan technology, and the selenium-coated drum system was compared to the other six systems (p values <or=0.003). Calculated effective dose varied between 0.010 mSv and 0.032 mSv. Significant differences in contrast-detail performance and effective dose levels were found between different digital chest radiography systems in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter J H Veldkamp
- Department of Radiology, C2S, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Venema HW, van Straten M, den Heeten GJ. Digital Radiography of the Chest: Reassessment of the High-Voltage Technique? Radiology 2005; 235:336-7; author reply 337-8. [PMID: 15798175 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2351041679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Bernhardt TM, Rapp-Bernhardt U, Lenzen H, Roehl FW, Diederich S, Papke K, Ludwig K, Heindel W. Low-voltage digital selenium radiography: detection of simulated interstitial lung disease, nodules, and catheters--a phantom study. Radiology 2004; 232:693-700. [PMID: 15273341 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2323030187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare three tube voltages in digital selenium radiography for the detection of simulated interstitial lung disease, nodules, and catheters. MATERIALS AND METHODS Simulated catheters, nodules, and ground-glass, linear, miliary, and reticular patterns were superimposed over an anthropomorphic chest phantom. Digital selenium radiography was performed with different tube voltages (70, 90, and 150 kVp). Hard-copy images were generated. Detection performance of five radiologists was compared by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis involving 54,000 observations. RESULTS The detection of ground-glass, linear, miliary, and reticular patterns over lucent lung and of nodules equal to, smaller than, and larger than 10 mm increased when 70 kVp and/or 90 kVp was used. However, only the reticular pattern was significantly better detected at lower peak voltage (P <.05). Simulated catheters and nodules over the mediastinum showed smaller areas under the ROC curve at lower peak voltage. These results were not statistically significant (P >.05). CONCLUSION The diagnostic performance of digital selenium radiography at lower peak voltage is at least as good as that at higher peak voltage for interstitial lung disease over lucent lung. Performance is equivalent for nodules and catheters over obscured chest regions at lower peak voltages compared with that at 150 kVp. Our results implicate that the use of high-voltage technique in digital selenium radiography should be reassessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Bernhardt
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Str 33, 48129 Muenster, Germany.
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Bernhardt TM, Rapp-Bernhardt U, Lenzen H, Röhl FW, Diederich S, Papke K, Ludwig K, Heindel W. Diagnostic Performance of a Flat-Panel Detector at Low Tube Voltage in Chest Radiography. Invest Radiol 2004; 39:97-103. [PMID: 14734924 DOI: 10.1097/01.rli.0000110566.23154.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate a large area, cesium iodide amorphous silicon flat-panel detector (CsI/a-Si) at 3 tube voltages to detect simulated interstitial lung disease, nodules, and catheters. METHODS Simulated interstitial lung disease, nodules, and catheters were superimposed over a chest phantom. Images were generated at 125 kVp, 90 kVp, and 70 kVp at the same surface dose and reduced effective dose equivalent for 90 kVp and 70 kVp and printed on hard copies. Fifty-four thousand observations were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC). RESULTS Detectability of linear, miliary, reticular pattern, and nodules over lucent lung as well as of catheters and nodules over obscured chest areas increased at 90 and/or 70 kVp with higher Az values; however, only it was statistically significant for reticular pattern at 70 kVp and nodules at 90 kVp compared with 125 kVp (P < 0.05). The detection of ground-glass pattern was worse at lower kVp (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION For most simulated patterns, differences in diagnostic performance at 70 kVp/90 kVp and 125 kVp were not significant, except for reticular pattern and nodules over lucent lung.
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