Quantifying image quality in diagnostic radiology using simulation of the imaging system and model observers (original) (raw)
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Purpose: Firstly, to evaluate a commercial chest phantom incorporating a quasi anthropomorphic insert by comparing exposure measurements on the phantom with those of actual patients and, secondly, to assess the value of the phantom for image quality and dose optimisation. Methods: In the first part of the study entrance surface doses (ESD), Beam transmission (BT), and optical density (OD) were obtained for 77 chest radiography patients and compared with measurements made from exposures of the phantom using the respective patient exposure factors from chest examination. Differences were assessed with a student t-test, while the Pearson's linear correlation coefficient was used to test for any linear relationship. The second part assessed the applicability of the phantom to image quality studies by investigating the effect, on the clarity and detectability of lung lesions made from gelatine, of reducing patient dose below current dose levels. Clarity of linear objects of different dimensions was also studied. Lesion detectability and clarity was assessed by four observers. The possibility of extending dose reduction below current dose levels (D ref ) was assessed from comparison of doses that produced statistically significant differences in image quality from D ref .
1999
A model of the complete x-ray imaging system including the patient is a powerful tool for imaging system analysis and the optimisation of image quality and patient dose. It allows flexible variation of the system components (i.e. x-ray source, antiscatter device and image detector) and study of their effect on image quality and patient risk. Our group has developed, validated and calibrated a Monte Carlo model of the complete imaging system for chest and lumbar spine examination including voxalised human male anatomy. The Monte Carlo program calculates the contrast and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of various contrasting details within the voxel phantom. Important details in the images have been selected by consulting radiologist and the EU document of image quality criteria. The entrance surface dose without back-scatter and the effective dose are used as measures of patient radiation risk. The contrasts of the details are derived initially from Monte Carlo estimates of the energy im...
Dose–image quality study in digital chest radiography using Monte Carlo simulation
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2008
One of the main preoccupations of diagnostic radiology is to guarantee a good image-sparing dose to the patient. In the present study, Monte Carlo simulations, with MCNPX code, coupled with an adult voxel female model (FAX) were performed to investigate how image quality and dose in digital chest radiography vary with tube voltage (80-150 kV) using air-gap technique and a computed radiography system. Calculated quantities were normalized to a fixed value of entrance skin exposure (ESE) of 0.0136 R. The results of the present analysis show that the image quality for chest radiography with imaging plate is improved and the dose reduced at lower tube voltage. r
A phantom study of image quality versus radiation dose for digital radiography
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2007
In the present work, a contrast-detail phantom was used to study the image quality and the radiation dose for digital X-ray imaging systems. The phantom consists of a 265 mm (H) Â 265 mm (W) Â 10 mm (D) acrylic sheet with drilled holes of various depths and diameters. At each setting of exposure techniques, three images were taken and evaluated subjectively by three independent radiologists. The average image quality figure (IQF) was then calculated. In addition, a computer program was developed to evaluate objectively the same images. This program, written in MATLAB, was based on a statistical method with variance analysis of the image pixels. Corrections of the parallax effect were made. Results showed that the computer program proved more sensitive than the radiologists. In addition to image analyses, the entrance surface dose (ESD) was measured using the Harshaw thermoluminescent dosimeters TLD-100H. Two 75 mm-thick acrylic slabs were used with the contrast-detail phantom in between. Optimization analyses on the image quality and the radiation dose were performed. r
Iranian Journal of Medical Physics, 2018
Introduction: Phantom studies facilitate the implementation of radiation dose surveillance as a function of radiographic technical parameters for minimizing patient radiation dose. The evidence of such investigations can then be used to evaluate technical parameters used in the radiographic procedures to reduce radiation dose without compromising the image quality. Material and Methods: This experimental study was carried out using an anthropomorphic phantom and the Leeds test object. Computed radiographic system was utilized and the images were printed for objective evaluation. Dose-area-product (DAP) readings were obtained using a DAP meter for the technical parameters employed for the radiographic procedures. Results: The use of 0.2 mm additional copper filtration resulted in the lowest radiation doses for all four radiographic procedures (i.e. posteroanterior chest, anteroposterior abdomen and lumbar sacral spine projections). The highest tube potential appropriate to the body p...
Medical Physics, 2001
A computer program has been developed to model chest radiography. It incorporates a voxel phantom of an adult and includes antiscatter grid, radiographic screen, and film. Image quality is quantified by calculating the contrast ͑⌬OD͒ and the ideal observer signal-to-noise ratio (SNR I ) for a number of relevant anatomical details at various positions in the anatomy. Detector noise and system unsharpness are modeled and their influence on image quality is considered. A measure of useful dynamic range is computed and defined as the fraction of the image that is reproduced at an optical density such that the film gradient exceeds a preset value. The effective dose is used as a measure of the radiation risk for the patient. A novel approach to patient dose and image quality optimization has been developed and implemented. It is based on a reference system acknowledged to yield acceptable image quality in a clinical trial. Two optimizations schemes have been studied, the first including the contrast of vessels as measure of image quality and the second scheme using also the signal-to-noise ratio of calcifications. Both schemes make use of our measure of useful dynamic range as a key quantity. A large variety of imaging conditions was simulated by varying the tube voltage, antiscatter device, screen-film system, and maximum optical density in the computed image. It was found that the optical density is crucial in screen-film chest radiography. Significant dose savings ͑30%-50%͒ can be accomplished without sacrificing image quality by using low-atomic-number grids with a low grid ratio or an air gap and more sensitive screen-film system. Dose-efficient configurations proposed by the model agree well with the example of good radiographic technique suggested by the European Commission.
Evaluation of dose–image-quality optimization in digital chest radiography
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2007
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the operation conditions and reduce patient doses while maintaining acceptable image quality in digital chest radiography. A geometric chest phantom with built-in regional test objects for quantitative assessment of image quality was used to produce images that simulate a chest projection. Images of the chest phantom were obtained using a GE Revolution XR/d digital X-ray system operated at tube potentials from 62 to 132 kVp with the grid and a distance of 180 cm between the source and image system. The X-ray images were obtained with the automatic exposure control (AEC) mode. Raw data of the acquired images were used for image-quality analysis. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was used as an image-quality indicator and a figure of merit (FOM) computed by dividing the SNR 2 by the effective dose was used to estimate the optimization of the chest radiography. The routine operation tube potential of 112 kVp seems optimal for subdiaphragm examinations but not for lung and heart examinations.
Developing optimized CT scan protocols: Phantom measurements of image quality
Radiography, 2011
Purpose: The increasing frequency of computerized tomography (CT) examinations is well documented, leading to concern about potential radiation risks for patients. However, the consequences of not performing the CT examination and missing injuries and disease are potentially serious, impacting upon correct patient management. The ALARA principle of dose optimization must be employed for all justified CT examinations.
Initial quality performance results using a phantom to simulate chest computed radiography
Journal of Medical Physics, 2011
The aim of this study was to develop a homemade phantom for quantitative quality control in chest computed radiography (CR). The phantom was constructed from copper, aluminium, and polymenthylmethacrylate (PMMA) plates as well as Styrofoam materials. Depending on combinations, the literature suggests that these materials can simulate the attenuation and scattering characteristics of lung, heart, and mediastinum. The lung, heart, and mediastinum regions were simulated by 10 mm x 10 mm x 0.5 mm, 10 mm x 10 mm x 0.5 mm and 10 mm x 10 mm x 1 mm copper plates, respectively. A test object of 100 mm x 100 mm and 0.2 mm thick copper was positioned to each region for CNR measurements. The phantom was exposed to x-rays generated by different tube potentials that covered settings in clinical use: 110-120 kVp (HVL=4.26-4.66 mm Al) at a source image distance (SID) of 180 cm. An approach similar to the recommended method in digital mammography was applied to determine the CNR values of phantom images produced by a Kodak CR 850A system with post-processing turned off. Subjective contrast-detail studies were also carried out by using images of Leeds TOR CDR test object acquired under similar exposure conditions as during CNR measurements. For clinical kVp conditions relevant to chest radiography, the CNR was highest over 90-100 kVp range. The CNR data correlated with the results of contrast detail observations. The values of clinical tube potentials at which CNR is the highest are regarded to be optimal kVp settings. The simplicity in phantom construction can offer easy implementation of related quality control program.