Accurate tissue characterization in low-dose CT imaging with pure iterative reconstruction.

Introduction: We assess the ability of low-dose hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) and 'pure' model-based IR (MBIR) images to maintain accurate Hounsfield unit (HU)-determined tissue characterization.

Methods: Standard-protocol (SP) and low-dose modified-protocol (MP) CTs were contemporaneously acquired in 34 Crohn's disease patients referred for CT. SP image reconstruction was via the manufacturer's recommendations (60% FBP, filtered back projection; 40% ASiR, Adaptive Statistical iterative Reconstruction; SP-ASiR40).