Radiation dose estimates based on Monte Carlo simulation for spiral breast computed tomography imaging in a large cohort of patients.

Background: Spiral breast computed tomography (BCT) equipped with a photon-counting detector (PCD) is a new radiological modality allowing for the compression-free acquisition of high-resolution 3-D datasets of the breast. Optimized dose exposu04170/re setups according to breast size were previously proposed but could not effectively be applied in a clinical environment due to ambiguity in measuring breast size.

Purpose: This study aims to report the standard radiation dose values in a large cohort of patients examined with BCT, and to provide a mathematical model to estimate radiation dose based on morphological features of the breast.

Investigation of spectral performance for single-scan contrast-enhanced breast CT using photon-counting technology: A phantom study.

Purpose: Contrast-enhanced imaging of the breast is frequently used in breast MRI and has recently become more common in mammography. The purpose of this study was to make single-scan contrast-enhanced imaging feasible for photon-counting breast CT (pcBCT) and to assess the spectral performance of a pcBCT scanner by evaluating iodine maps and virtual non-contrast (VNC) images.

Methods: We optimized the settings of a pcBCT to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio between iodinated contrast agent and breast tissue.

Metal Artifact Reduction in X-ray Computed Tomography Using Computer-Aided Design Data of Implants as Prior Information.

Objectives: The performance of metal artifact reduction (MAR) methods in x-ray computed tomography (CT) suffers from incorrect identification of metallic implants in the artifact-affected volumetric images. The aim of this study was to investigate potential improvements of state-of-the-art MAR methods by using prior information on geometry and material of the implant.

Materials And Methods: The influence of a novel prior knowledge-based segmentation (PS) compared with threshold-based segmentation (TS) on 2 MAR methods (linear interpolation [LI] and normalized-MAR [NORMAR]) was investigated.

Performance of Photon-Counting Breast Computed Tomography, Digital Mammography, and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis in Evaluating Breast Specimens.

Rationale And Objectives: This study compared a novel photon-counting breast computed tomography (pcBCT) system with digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) systems. For this reason, surgical specimens were examined with all three techniques and rated by three observers.

Materials And Methods: A total of 30 surgical specimens were investigated with DM, DBT, and pcBCT; the associated images were shown to three experienced radiologists.

Dose Optimization for Computed Tomography Localizer Radiographs for Low-Dose Lung Computed Tomography Examinations.

Introduction: Recent studies have shown a substantial reduction of radiation dose from computed tomography (CT) scans down to 0.1 mSv for lung cancer screening and cardiac examinations, when applying optimization techniques. Hence, CT localizer radiographs (LRs) might now be considered a significant contributor to the total dose of the CT examination.

Technical feasibility proof for high-resolution low-dose photon-counting CT of the breast.

Unlabelled: X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been proposed and evaluated multiple times as a potentially alternative method for breast imaging. All efforts shown so far have been criticized and partly disapproved because of their limited spatial resolution and higher patient dose when compared to mammography. Our concept for a dedicated breast CT (BCT) scanner therefore aimed at novel apparatus and detector design to provide high spatial resolution of about 100 μm and average glandular dose (AGD) levels of 5 mGy or below.

High Atomic Number Contrast Media Offer Potential for Radiation Dose Reduction in Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography.

Objectives: Spectral optimization of x-ray computed tomography (CT) has led to substantial radiation dose reduction in contrast-enhanced CT studies using standard iodinated contrast media. The purpose of this study was to analyze the potential for further dose reduction using high-atomic-number elements such as hafnium and tungsten. As in previous studies, spectra were determined for which the patient dose necessary to provide a given contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) is minimized.

Comparative investigation of the detective quantum efficiency of direct and indirect conversion detector technologies in dedicated breast CT.

Purpose: To investigate the dose saving potential of direct-converting CdTe photon-counting detector technology for dedicated breast CT.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the modulation transfer function (MTF), the noise power spectrum (NPS) and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of two detector technologies, suitable for breast CT (BCT): a flat-panel energy-integrating detector with a 70 μm and a 208 μm thick gadolinium oxysulfide (GOS) and a 150 μm thick cesium iodide (CsI) scintillator and a photon-counting detector with a 1000 μm thick CdTe sensor.

Results: The measurements for GOS scintillator thicknesses of 70 μm and 208 μm delivered 10% pre-sampled MTF values of 6.

Comparison of methods for acceptance and constancy testing in dental cone-beam computed tomography.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to implement, validate, and compare two procedures for routine image quality (IQ) assurance in dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT): 1. the German standard DIN 6868 - 161 introduced in 2013 and 2. the established standard IEC 61,223 - 3-5 for clinical CT x-ray equipment referenced as "DIN" and "IEC" below.

Generating and using patient-specific whole-body models for organ dose estimates in CT with increased accuracy: feasibility and validation.

The estimation of patient dose using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations based on the available patient CT images is limited to the length of the scan. Software tools for dose estimation based on standard computational phantoms overcome this problem; however, they are limited with respect to taking individual patient anatomy into account. The purpose of this study was to generate whole-body patient models in order to take scattered radiation and over-scanning effects into account.

Experimental validation of a single shaped filter approach for CT using variable source-to-filter distance for examination of arbitrary object diameters.

The purpose of this study was to validate the use of a single shaped filter (SF) for computed tomography (CT) using variable source-to-filter distance (SFD) for the examination of different object diameters.A SF was designed by performing simulations with the purpose of achieving noise homogeneity in the reconstructed volume and dose reduction for arbitrary phantom diameters. This was accomplished by using a filter design method thats target is to achieve a homogeneous detector noise, but also uses a correction factor for the filtered back projection process.

A quality assurance framework for the fully automated and objective evaluation of image quality in cone-beam computed tomography.

Purpose: Thousands of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners for vascular, maxillofacial, neurological, and body imaging are in clinical use today, but there is no consensus on uniform acceptance and constancy testing for image quality (IQ) and dose yet. The authors developed a quality assurance (QA) framework for fully automated and time-efficient performance evaluation of these systems. In addition, the dependence of objective Fourier-based IQ metrics on direction and position in 3D volumes was investigated for CBCT.

Assessment of patient dose from CT localizer radiographs.

Purpose: With recently introduced technical innovations for CT systems, the dose of CT scan acquisitions has been substantially reduced; even effective dose values below 1 mSv have been reported. Due to this development, dose of the localizer radiograph may contribute substantially to dose of the whole CT examination. Since there are only limited data in the literature regarding patient dose for the different types of localizer radiographs, patient dose values were estimated in our study by measurements and Monte Carlo simulations and compared to dose values of typical CT examinations.

Effect of shaped filter design on dose and image quality in breast CT.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of shaped filters specifically designed for dedicated breast computed tomography (CT) scanners on dose and image quality. Optimization of filter shape and material in fan direction was performed using two different design methods, one aiming at homogeneous noise distributions in the CT images and the other aiming at a uniform dose distribution in the breast. The optimal filter thickness as a function of fan angle was determined iteratively to fulfil the above mentioned criteria for each breast diameter.

Fast on-site Monte Carlo tool for dose calculations in CT applications.

Purpose: Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is an established technique for dose calculation in diagnostic radiology. The major drawback is its high computational demand, which limits the possibility of usage in real-time applications. The aim of this study was to develop fast on-site computed tomography (CT) specific MC dose calculations by using a graphics processing unit (GPU) cluster.

Development and evaluation of a phantom for dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging.

Objectives: Dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging allows assessing functional information in addition to morphology using various modalities. Several applications have been established in clinical practice; however, there is no standard with respect to injection protocols or postprocessing algorithms. The purpose of this study was to develop a phantom for generating reproducible contrast-enhancement curves and providing a standard for comparison of different protocols and modalities in dynamic imaging.

A formulation of tissue- and water-equivalent materials using the stoichiometric analysis method for CT-number calibration in radiotherapy treatment planning.

Tissue- and water-equivalent materials (TEMs) are widely used in quality assurance and calibration procedures, both in radiodiagnostics and radiotherapy. In radiotherapy, particularly, the TEMs are often used for computed tomography (CT) number calibration in treatment planning systems. However, currently available TEMs may not be very accurate in the determination of the calibration curves due to their limitation in mimicking radiation characteristics of the corresponding real tissues in both low- and high-energy ranges.

Dosimetry concepts for scanner quality assurance and tissue dose assessment in micro-CT.

Purpose: At present, no established methods exist for dosimetry in micro computed tomography (micro-CT). The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate practical concepts for both dosimetric scanner quality assurance and tissue dose assessment for micro-CT.

Methods: The computed tomography dose index (CTDI) was adapted to micro-CT and measurements of the CTDI both free in air and in the center of cylindrical polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantoms of 20 and 32 mm diameter were performed in a 6 month interval with a 100 mm pencil ionization chamber calibrated for low tube voltages.

Iterative reconstruction methods in X-ray CT.

Iterative reconstruction (IR) methods have recently re-emerged in transmission x-ray computed tomography (CT). They were successfully used in the early years of CT, but given up when the amount of measured data increased because of the higher computational demands of IR compared to analytical methods. The availability of large computational capacities in normal workstations and the ongoing efforts towards lower doses in CT have changed the situation; IR has become a hot topic for all major vendors of clinical CT systems in the past 5 years.

Volume-of-interest imaging of the inner ear in a human temporal bone specimen using a robot- driven C-arm flat panel detector CT system.

VOI imaging can provide higher image quality at a reduced dose for a subregion. In this study with a robot-driven C-arm FDCT system, the goals were proof of feasibility for inner ear imaging, higher flexibility during data acquisition, and easier processing during reconstruction. First a low-dose OV scan was acquired allowing an orientation and enabling the selection of the VOI.

High-resolution spiral CT of the breast at very low dose: concept and feasibility considerations.

Objective: Mammography, today's standard imaging approach, has deficits with respect to the superimposition of anatomical structures. Dedicated CT of the breast so far indicated that it can provide superior soft-tissue imaging, but that it still has significant limitations with respect to spatial resolution and dose. We have assessed novel dedicated breast CT technology.

Semiempirical analysis of materials' elemental composition to formulate tissue-equivalent materials: a preliminary study.

Tissue-equivalent materials are used for simplifying quality control and quality assurance procedures, both in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology. Important information to formulate a tissue-equivalent material is elemental composition of its base materials. However, this information is not easily obtained.

Accessory atrioventricular myocardial pathways in mouse heart development: substrate for supraventricular tachycardias.

Atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT) requiring an accessory atrioventricular pathway (AP) is the most common type of arrhythmia in the perinatal period. The etiology of these arrhythmias is not fully understood as well as their capability to dissipate spontaneously in the first year of life. Temporary presence of APs during annulus fibrosus development might cause this specific type of arrhythmias.

Comparison of extended field-of-view reconstructions in C-arm flat-detector CT using patient size, shape or attenuation information.

In C-arm-based flat-detector computed tomography (FDCT) it frequently happens that the patient exceeds the scan field of view (SFOV) in the transaxial direction because of the limited detector size. This results in data truncation and CT image artefacts. In this work three truncation correction approaches for extended field-of-view (EFOV) reconstructions have been implemented and evaluated.

[Digital volume tomography (DVT) and multislice spiral CT (MSCT): an objective examination of dose and image quality].

Purpose: In the last five years digital volume tomographs (DVT) have found their way into the diagnostic imaging of the facial skull. In this study both the image quality and dose of DVT and multislice spiral CT (MSCT) in this field of application were investigated using established physical methods for CT.

Materials And Methods: Measurements on DVT scanners of various manufacturers and on a modern MSCT scanner were performed.