TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimization of the Reconstruction Settings for Low-Dose Ultra-High-Resolution Photon-Counting Detector CT of the Lungs
AU - Graafen, Dirk
AU - Halfmann, Moritz C.
AU - Emrich, Tilman
AU - Yang, Yang
AU - Kreuter, Michael
AU - Düber, Christoph
AU - Kloeckner, Roman
AU - Müller, Lukas
AU - Jorg, Tobias
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) yields improved spatial resolution. The combined use of PCD-CT and a modern iterative reconstruction method, known as quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR), has the potential to significantly improve the quality of lung CT images. In this study, we aimed to analyze the impacts of different slice thicknesses and QIR levels on low-dose ultra-high-resolution (UHR) PCD-CT imaging of the lungs. Our study included 51 patients with different lung diseases who underwent unenhanced UHR-PCD-CT scans. Images were reconstructed using three different slice thicknesses (0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 mm) and three QIR levels (2–4). Noise levels were determined in all reconstructions. Three raters evaluated the delineation of anatomical structures and conspicuity of various pulmonary pathologies in the images compared to the clinical reference reconstruction (1.0 mm, QIR-3). The highest QIR level (QIR-4) yielded the best image quality. Reducing the slice thickness to 0.4 mm improved the delineation and conspicuity of pathologies. The 0.2 mm reconstructions exhibited lower image quality due to high image noise. In conclusion, the optimal reconstruction protocol for low-dose UHR-PCD-CT of the lungs includes a slice thickness of 0.4 mm, with the highest QIR level. This optimized protocol might improve the diagnostic accuracy and confidence of lung imaging.
AB - Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) yields improved spatial resolution. The combined use of PCD-CT and a modern iterative reconstruction method, known as quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR), has the potential to significantly improve the quality of lung CT images. In this study, we aimed to analyze the impacts of different slice thicknesses and QIR levels on low-dose ultra-high-resolution (UHR) PCD-CT imaging of the lungs. Our study included 51 patients with different lung diseases who underwent unenhanced UHR-PCD-CT scans. Images were reconstructed using three different slice thicknesses (0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 mm) and three QIR levels (2–4). Noise levels were determined in all reconstructions. Three raters evaluated the delineation of anatomical structures and conspicuity of various pulmonary pathologies in the images compared to the clinical reference reconstruction (1.0 mm, QIR-3). The highest QIR level (QIR-4) yielded the best image quality. Reducing the slice thickness to 0.4 mm improved the delineation and conspicuity of pathologies. The 0.2 mm reconstructions exhibited lower image quality due to high image noise. In conclusion, the optimal reconstruction protocol for low-dose UHR-PCD-CT of the lungs includes a slice thickness of 0.4 mm, with the highest QIR level. This optimized protocol might improve the diagnostic accuracy and confidence of lung imaging.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85178937929&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/diagnostics13233522
DO - 10.3390/diagnostics13233522
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85178937929
SN - 2075-4418
VL - 13
JO - Diagnostics
JF - Diagnostics
IS - 23
M1 - 3522
ER -