DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Attenuation-Based Automatic Kilovoltage Selection and Sinogram-Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction: Effects on Radiation Exposure and Image Quality of Portal-Phase Liver CT

  • Song, Ji Soo (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Eun Jung (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Eun Young (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Kwak, Hyo Sung (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Han, Young Min (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2014.10.11
  • Accepted : 2014.10.19
  • Published : 2015.02.01

Abstract

Objective: To compare the radiation dose and image quality between standard-dose CT and a low-dose CT obtained with the combined use of an attenuation-based automatic kilovoltage (kV) selection tool (CARE kV) and sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) for contrast-enhanced CT examination of the liver. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 67 patients with chronic liver disease in whom both, standard-dose CT with 64-slice multidetector-row CT (MDCT) (protocol A), and low-dose CT with 128-slice MDCT using CARE kV and SAFIRE (protocol B) were performed. Images from protocol B during the portal phase were reconstructed using either filtered back projection or SAFIRE with 5 different iterative reconstruction (IR) strengths. We performed qualitative and quantitative analyses to select the appropriate IR strength. Reconstructed images were then qualitatively and quantitatively compared with protocol A images. Results: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of protocol B demonstrated that SAFIRE level 2 (S2) was most appropriate in our study. Qualitative and quantitative analysis comparing S2 images from protocol B with images from protocol A, showed overall good diagnostic confidence of S2 images despite a significant radiation dose reduction (47% dose reduction, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Combined use of CARE kV and SAFIRE allowed significant reduction in radiation exposure while maintaining image quality in contrast-enhanced liver CT.

Keywords

References

  1. Lee KH, Lee JM, Moon SK, Baek JH, Park JH, Flohr TG, et al. Attenuation-based automatic tube voltage selection and tube current modulation for dose reduction at contrast-enhanced liver CT. Radiology 2012;265:437-447 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.12112434
  2. Brenner DJ, Hall EJ. Computed tomography--an increasing source of radiation exposure. N Engl J Med 2007;357:2277-2284 https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra072149
  3. Fazel R, Krumholz HM, Wang Y, Ross JS, Chen J, Ting HH, et al. Exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation from medical imaging procedures. N Engl J Med 2009;361:849-857 https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0901249
  4. Mulkens TH, Bellinck P, Baeyaert M, Ghysen D, Van Dijck X, Mussen E, et al. Use of an automatic exposure control mechanism for dose optimization in multi-detector row CT examinations: clinical evaluation. Radiology 2005;237:213-223 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2363041220
  5. McCollough CH, Bruesewitz MR, Kofler JM Jr. CT dose reduction and dose management tools: overview of available options. Radiographics 2006;26:503-512 https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.262055138
  6. Goo HW. CT radiation dose optimization and estimation: an update for radiologists. Korean J Radiol 2012;13:1-11 https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2012.13.1.1
  7. McCollough CH, Primak AN, Braun N, Kofler J, Yu L, Christner J. Strategies for reducing radiation dose in CT. Radiol Clin North Am 2009;47:27-40 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcl.2008.10.006
  8. Yu L, Bruesewitz MR, Thomas KB, Fletcher JG, Kofler JM, McCollough CH. Optimal tube potential for radiation dose reduction in pediatric CT: principles, clinical implementations, and pitfalls. Radiographics 2011;31:835-848 https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.313105079
  9. Marin D, Nelson RC, Schindera ST, Richard S, Youngblood RS, Yoshizumi TT, et al. Low-tube-voltage, high-tube-current multidetector abdominal CT: improved image quality and decreased radiation dose with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction algorithm--initial clinical experience. Radiology 2010;254:145-153 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.09090094
  10. Yu L, Li H, Fletcher JG, McCollough CH. Automatic selection of tube potential for radiation dose reduction in CT: a general strategy. Med Phys 2010;37:234-243 https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3264614
  11. Siegel MJ, Schmidt B, Bradley D, Suess C, Hildebolt C. Radiation dose and image quality in pediatric CT: effect of technical factors and phantom size and shape. Radiology 2004;233:515-522 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2332032107
  12. Schindera ST, Winklehner A, Alkadhi H, Goetti R, Fischer M, Gnannt R, et al. Effect of automatic tube voltage selection on image quality and radiation dose in abdominal CT angiography of various body sizes: a phantom study. Clin Radiol 2013;68:e79-e86 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crad.2012.10.007
  13. Sigal-Cinqualbre AB, Hennequin R, Abada HT, Chen X, Paul JF. Low-kilovoltage multi-detector row chest CT in adults: feasibility and effect on image quality and iodine dose. Radiology 2004;231:169-174 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2311030191
  14. Schabel C, Fenchel M, Schmidt B, Flohr TG, Wuerslin C, Thomas C, et al. Clinical evaluation and potential radiation dose reduction of the novel sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction technique (SAFIRE) in abdominal computed tomography angiography. Acad Radiol 2013;20:165-172 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2012.08.015
  15. Shin HJ, Chung YE, Lee YH, Choi JY, Park MS, Kim MJ, et al. Radiation dose reduction via sinogram affirmed iterative reconstruction and automatic tube voltage modulation (CARE kV) in abdominal CT. Korean J Radiol 2013;14:886-893 https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2013.14.6.886
  16. Eller A, May MS, Scharf M, Schmid A, Kuefner M, Uder M, et al. Attenuation-based automatic kilovolt selection in abdominal computed tomography: effects on radiation exposure and image quality. Invest Radiol 2012;47:559-565 https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0b013e318260c5d6
  17. Winklehner A, Goetti R, Baumueller S, Karlo C, Schmidt B, Raupach R, et al. Automated attenuation-based tube potential selection for thoracoabdominal computed tomography angiography: improved dose effectiveness. Invest Radiol 2011;46:767-773 https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0b013e3182266448
  18. Gnannt R, Winklehner A, Eberli D, Knuth A, Frauenfelder T, Alkadhi H. Automated tube potential selection for standard chest and abdominal CT in follow-up patients with testicular cancer: comparison with fixed tube potential. Eur Radiol 2012;22:1937-1945 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2453-y
  19. Kalra MK, Woisetschlager M, Dahlstrom N, Singh S, Lindblom M, Choy G, et al. Radiation dose reduction with Sinogram Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction technique for abdominal computed tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr 2012;36:339-346 https://doi.org/10.1097/RCT.0b013e31825586c0
  20. Baker ME, Dong F, Primak A, Obuchowski NA, Einstein D, Gandhi N, et al. Contrast-to-noise ratio and low-contrast object resolution on full-and low-dose MDCT: SAFIRE versus filtered back projection in a low-contrast object phantom and in the liver. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2012;199:8-18 https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.11.7421
  21. Pontana F, Pagniez J, Duhamel A, Flohr T, Faivre JB, Murphy C, et al. Reduced-dose low-voltage chest CT angiography with Sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction versus standard-dose filtered back projection. Radiology 2013;267:609-618 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.12120414
  22. Singh S, Kalra MK, Moore MA, Shailam R, Liu B, Toth TL, et al. Dose reduction and compliance with pediatric CT protocols adapted to patient size, clinical indication, and number of prior studies. Radiology 2009;252:200-208 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2521081554
  23. Awai K, Takada K, Onishi H, Hori S. Aortic and hepatic enhancement and tumor-to-liver contrast: analysis of the effect of different concentrations of contrast material at multi-detector row helical CT. Radiology 2002;224:757-763 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2243011188
  24. Spielmann AL, Nelson RC, Lowry CR, Johnson GA, Sundaramoothy G, Sheafor DH, et al. Liver: single breath-hold dynamic subtraction CT with multi-detector row helical technology feasibility study. Radiology 2002;222:278-283 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2221010190
  25. CT Dosimetry Diagnostic Imaging Council CT Committee. AAPM REPORT NO. 96. The Measurement, Reporting, and Management of Radiation Dose in CT. USA: American Association of Physicists in Medicine, 2008
  26. Conover WJ. The Friedman test. In: Conover WJ, ed. Practical Nonparametric Statistics. New York: J. Wiley, 1999:369-373
  27. Schindera ST, Nelson RC, Yoshizumi T, Toncheva G, Nguyen G, DeLong DM, et al. Effect of automatic tube current modulation on radiation dose and image quality for low tube voltage multidetector row CT angiography: phantom study. Acad Radiol 2009;16:997-1002 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2009.02.021
  28. Hur S, Lee JM, Kim SJ, Park JH, Han JK, Choi BI. 80-kVp CT using Iterative Reconstruction in Image Space algorithm for the detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma: phantom and initial clinical experience. Korean J Radiol 2012;13:152-164 https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2012.13.2.152
  29. Namimoto T, Oda S, Utsunomiya D, Shimonobo T, Morita S, Nakaura T, et al. Improvement of image quality at low-radiation dose and low-contrast material dose abdominal CT in patients with cirrhosis: intraindividual comparison of low tube voltage with iterative reconstruction algorithm and standard tube voltage. J Comput Assist Tomogr 2012;36:495-501 https://doi.org/10.1097/RCT.0b013e31825b821f
  30. Karpitschka M, Augart D, Becker HC, Reiser M, Graser A. Dose reduction in oncological staging multidetector CT: effect of iterative reconstruction. Br J Radiol 2013;86:20120224 https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20120224

Cited by

  1. Reaching for better image quality and lower radiation dose in head and neck CT: advanced modeled and sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction in combination with tube voltage adaptation vol.46, pp.1, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr.20160131
  2. Helical CT with variable target noise levels for dose reduction in chest, abdomen and pelvis CT vol.28, pp.9, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5315-4
  3. CARE Dose 4D combined with sinogram‐affirmed iterative reconstruction improved the image quality and reduced the radiation dose in low dose CT of the small intestine vol.20, pp.1, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1002/acm2.12502
  4. A LESSON FROM AUTOMATIC TUBE VOLTAGE SELECTION: FEASIBILITY OF 100 kVp IN PORTAL VENOUS PHASE ABDOMINAL CT vol.188, pp.4, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncz302
  5. Validation of CARE kV automated tube voltage selection for PET-CT: PET quantification and CT radiation dose reduction in phantoms vol.8, pp.1, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40658-021-00373-8