Energy optimisation of propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography : a quantitative image quality assessment

Belinda Lim, Sarah Lewis, Benedicta D. Arhatari, Yakov I. Nesterets, Sheridan C. Mayo, Darren Thomposon, Jane Fox, Beena Kumar, Daniel Hausermann, Anton Maksimenko, Christopher Hall, Matthew Dimmock, Darren Lockie, Mary Rickard, Nicola Giannotti, Andrew Peele, Harry M. Quiney, Timur E. Gureyev, Patrick C. Brennan, Seyedamir Tavakoli Taba

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paperpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

![CDATA[Purpose: This study aims at establishing the optimum x-ray energy for synchrotron acquired propagation-based computed tomography (PB-CT) images to obtain highest radiological image quality of breast mastectomy samples. It also examines the correlation between objective physical measures of image quality with subjective human observer scores to model factors impacting visual determinants of image quality. Approach: Thirty mastectomy samples were scanned at Australian Synchrotron’s Imaging and Medical Beamline. Samples were scanned at energies of 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 60 keV at a standard dose of 4mGy. Objective physical measures of image quality were assessed using signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), SNR/resolution (SNR/res), CNR/resolution (CNR/res) and visibility. Additional calculations for each measure were performed against reference absorption-based computer tomography (AB-CT) images scanned at 32 keV and 4mGy. This included differences in SNR (dSNR), CNR (dCNR), SNR/res (dSNR/res), CNR/res (dCNR/res), and visibility (dVis). Physical measures of image quality were also compared with visual grading analysis data to determine a correlation between observer scores and objective metrics. Results: For dSNR, dCNR, dSNR/res, dCNR/res, and dVis, a statistically significant difference was found between the energy levels. The peak x-ray energy for dSNR and dSNR/res was 60 keV. For dCNR and dCNR/res 34 keV produced the highest measure compared to 28 keV for dVis. Visibility and CNR correlate to 56.8% of observer scores. Conclusion: The optimal x-ray energy differs for different objective measures of image quality with 30-34 keV providing optimum image quality for breast PB-CT. Visibility and CNR correlate highest to medical imaging expert scores.]]
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE: Medical Imaging 2022: Physics of Medical Imaging, 20-23 February 2022, San Diego, California, United States, 21-27 March 2022, Online
PublisherSPIE
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)9781510649378
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
EventMedical Imaging (Conference : SPIE) -
Duration: 21 Feb 2023 → …

Publication series

Name
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceMedical Imaging (Conference : SPIE)
Period21/02/23 → …

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