The effect of dose reduction and feasibility of edge-preserving noise reduction on the detection of liver lesions using MSCT.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of dose reduction and the potential of noise reduction filters on image quality and the detection of liver lesions using MSCT. Twenty-nine patients with a total of 40 liver lesions underwent 16-slice CT (120 kV; 180 mAs). Virtual noise was added to CT raw datasets simulating effective mAs levels of 155, 130, 105, 80, 55, 30 and 10 mAs. All datasets were post-processed with an edge-preserving noise-reduction filter (ANR-3D), yielding a total of 15 datasets per patient. Ten radiologists performed independent evaluations of image quality, the presence of liver lesions and diagnostic confidence. Quantitative noise and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were obtained. Superior image quality (P < 0.02), reduction of image noise (P < 0.001) and the increase of lesion-to-liver CNR (P < 0.001) were observed in images processed with the ANR-3D filter. Sensitivity for lesion detection remained unchanged down to 105 mAs (CTDI(w) 6.6 mGy) without filter and 80 mAs (CTDI(w) 5.1 mGy) with ANR-3D. Confidence was rated significantly higher for datasets reconstructed with ANR-3D. The use of a noise-reducing, but edge-preserving filter (ANR-3D) is a promising option to reduce further the radiation dose in liver CT.

Portable flat-panel detector for low-dose imaging in a pediatric intensive care unit: comparison with an asymmetric film-screen system.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a portable indirect flat-panel detector for low-dose imaging as compared with an asymmetric film-screen system in a pediatric intensive care unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 neonates underwent chest radiographs using a portable flat-panel detector (digital speed 800) and an asymmetric film-screen system (400 speed). Four readers evaluated the detection of 11 anatomic and 5 pathologic landmarks and 4 support devices. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated analysis of variance. The level of statistical significance was P = 0.05. RESULTS: The detection of 4 anatomic/4 pathologic landmarks and 2 support devices was significantly better using the flat-panel detector as compared with the asymmetric film-screen system (P < 0.05). Another 8 anatomic and one pathologic landmarks were detected equally well or slightly better with the flat-panel detector (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The portable flat-panel detector offers the potential of a 50% dose reduction with equal or significantly better detection of clinically important structures.

Experimental evaluation of a portable indirect flat-panel detector for the pediatric chest: comparison with storage phosphor radiography at different exposures by using a chest phantom.

PURPOSE: To compare the exposure dose requirements and performance of a portable indirect flat-panel detector for pediatric use in the depiction of catheters, simulated pulmonary nodules, and simulated interstitial lung disease with those of storage phosphor radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Catheters and simulated nodules and subtle interstitial lung disease (miliary, reticular, linear, and ground-glass patterns) were superimposed over an anthropomorphic chest phantom. Images were obtained with different exposures corresponding to simulated speeds of 400 and 800 with a portable flat-panel detector and printed on hard copies. These images were compared with those from storage phosphor radiography at a simulated speed of 400, which is typically used in pediatric radiology. Four independent readers recorded 7200 observations per pattern (for a total of 600 statistically independent observations), and these observations were subjected to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Differences were considered significant at a P value of .05. RESULTS: Catheters over obscured chest areas, nodules 10 mm or smaller and larger than 10 mm over lucent lung, nodules 10 mm or smaller over obscured chest areas, and miliary and linear patterns over lucent lung showed higher areas under the ROC curve (A(z)) with the flat-panel detector at 400 and 800 digital speed compared with storage phosphor radiography. A(z) values for reticular and ground-glass patterns with the flat-panel detector were equal to or less than those with storage phosphor radiography. These differences, however, were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In the detection of catheters, nodules, and almost all interstitial lung disease, A(z) values were higher with the portable flat-panel detector than with storage phosphor radiography at equivalent and reduced speeds. These results suggest that the portable flat-panel detector could be used with reduced exposure dose in pediatric patients.