• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

Background: In this study, we investigate the image quality of virtual monochromatic images synthesized from dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) at voltages of 80/140 kV and 100/140 kV. Materials and Methods: Virtual monochromatic images of a phantom are synthesized from DECT scans from 40 to 70 keV in steps of 1 keV under the two combinations of tube voltages. The dose allocation of dual-energy (DE) scan is 50% for both low- and high-energy tubes. The virtual monochromatic images are compared to single-energy (SE) images at the same radiation dose. In the DE images, noise is reduced using the 100/140 kV scan at the optimal monochromatic energy. Virtual monochromatic images are reconstructed from 40 to 70 keV in 1-keV increments and analyzed using two quality indexes: noise and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Results and Discussion: The DE scan mode with the 100/140 kV protocol achieved a better maximum CNR compared to the 80/140 kV protocol for various materials, except for adipose and brain. Image noise is reduced with the 100/140 kV protocol. The CNR values of DE with the 100/140 kV protocol is similar to or higher than that of SE at 120 kV at the same radiation dose. Furthermore, the maximum CNR with the 100/140 kV protocol is similar to or higher than that of the SE scan at 120 kV. Conclusion: It was found that the CNR achieved with the 100/140 kV protocol was better than that with the 80/140 kV protocol at optimal monochromatic energies. Virtual monochromatic imaging using the 100/140 kV protocol could be considered for application in breast, brain, lung, liver, and bone CT in accordance with the CNR results.

• 대한방사선치료학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.77-84
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• 2017

목 적: 이중선원 듀얼에너지 CT(DS-DECT)의 가상 단색 영상을 이용해서 영상의 질 향상과 선량학적 영향에 대한 방사선치료계획 이용의 유용성을 평가하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: DS-DECT를 이용하여 듀얼에너지(80/Sn 140 kVp)와 싱글에너지(120 kVp) 영상을 획득하였다. 영상 교정 팬텀 실험을 위해서 40-140 keV 범위로 단색 영상을 재구성했다. 선량 측정용 고체물등가팬텀 연구에서는 64, 69, 88, 105 keV 단색 영상을 선택했다. 스테인리스 스틸을 포함한 고체물등가팬텀에 $10{\times}10cm^2$ 조사야, SSD 100 cm, 10 MV 광자선, 100 MU 조사선량, 단일빔으로 치료계획을 수립하였다. 방사선량측면도 자료는 중심축에 위치한 4개의 지점에서 구했다. 싱글에너지 CT에서 획득한 다색 영상을 기준영상으로 하고, 가상 단색 영상의 선량학적 결과를 분석하였다. 결 과: 낮은 단색 에너지 수치에서 평균 감약이 증가했다. 7개의 물질 중에서 Teflon이 에너지 의존성이 가장 컸고, 10 keV 수치 상승으로 CT number가 평균 2.48 % 감소했다. 저밀도 공기에서는 단색 에너지에 대한 에너지 의존성이 없었다. Polystyrene, Acrylic은 70 keV 이상에서 안정한 CT number를 나타내었다. CT-ED 변환 곡선은 80 keV 단색 영상과 120 kVp 다색 영상이 비슷하였다. 단색 영상의 에너지가 증가할수록 금속의 식별 능력이 향상되었다. 줄무늬 인공음영은 105 keV 단색 영상에서 높은 감소를 보였지만, 여전히 남아 있었다. 다색 영상과 비교하여 각 영상에 따른 방사선치료계획의 선량학적 차이는 ${\pm}0.7%$ 미만이었다. 결 론: 듀얼에너지 영상의 획득은 싱글에너지에 비해 피폭선량을 감소시킬 수 있고, 가상 단색 영상은 CT number 보정에 유용하였다. 향상된 영상의 질은 인체의 기하구조 묘사와 전자 밀도 분포 형성에 도움이 될 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권7호
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• pp.838-850
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• 2020

Computed tomography (CT) is an important imaging modality in evaluating thoracic malignancies. The clinical utility of dual-energy spectral computed tomography (DESCT) has recently been realized. DESCT allows for virtual monoenergetic or monochromatic imaging, virtual non-contrast or unenhanced imaging, iodine concentration measurement, and effective atomic number (Z_eff map). The application of information gained using this technique in the field of thoracic oncology is important, and therefore many studies have been conducted to explore the use of DESCT in the evaluation and management of thoracic malignancies. Here we summarize and review recent DESCT studies on clinical applications related to thoracic oncology.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.273-279
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effects of energy level, reconstruction kernel, and tube rotation time on Hounsfield unit (HU) values of hydroxyapatite (HA) in virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) obtained with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)(Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany). Materials and Methods: A bone density calibration phantom with 3 HA inserts of different densities(CTWATER^®; 0, 100, and 200 mg of HA/㎤) was scanned using a twin-beam DECT scanner at 120 kVp with tube rotation times of 0.5 and 1.0 seconds. The VMIs were reconstructed by changing the energy level (with options of 40 keV, 70 keV, and 140 keV). In order to investigate the impact of the reconstruction kernel, virtual monochromatic images were reconstructed after changing the kernel from body regular 40 (Br40) to head regular 40 (Hr40) in the reconstruction phase. The mean HU value was measured by placing a circular region of interests (ROIs) in the middle of each insert obtained from the VMIs. The HU values were compared with regard to energy level, reconstruction kernel, and tube rotation time. Results: Hydroxyapatite density was strongly correlated with HU values(correlation coefficient=0.678, P<0.05). For the HA 100 and 200 inserts, HU decreased significantly at increased energy levels(correlation coefficient= -0.538, P<0.05) but increased by 70 HU when using Hr40 rather than Br40 (correlation coefficient=0.158, P<0.05). The tube rotation time did not significantly affect the HU(P>0.05). Conclusion: The HU values of hydroxyapatite were strongly correlated with hydroxyapatite density and energy level in VMIs obtained with DECT.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.1341-1351
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• 2021

Objective: To compare the quality of various polychromatic and monochromatic images with or without using an iterative metal artifact reduction algorithm (iMAR) obtained from a dual-energy computed tomography (CT) to evaluate total knee arthroplasty. Materials and Methods: We included 58 patients (28 male and 30 female; mean age [range], 71.4 [61-83] years) who underwent 74 knee examinations after total knee arthroplasty using dual-energy CT. CT image sets consisted of polychromatic image sets that linearly blended 80 kVp and tin-filtered 140 kVp using weighting factors of 0.4, 0, and -0.3, and monochromatic images at 130, 150, 170, and 190 keV. These image sets were obtained with and without applying iMAR, creating a total of 14 image sets. Two readers qualitatively ranked the image quality (1 [lowest quality] through 14 [highest quality]). Volumes of high- and low-density artifacts and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) between the bone and fat tissue were quantitatively measured in a subset of 25 knees unaffected by metal artifacts. Results: iMAR-applied, polychromatic images using weighting factors of -0.3 and 0.0 (P_-0.3i and P_0.0i, respectively) showed the highest image-quality rank scores (median of 14 for both by one reader and 13 and 14, respectively, by the other reader; p < 0.001). All iMAR-applied image series showed higher rank scores than the iMAR-unapplied ones. The smallest volumes of low-density artifacts were found in P_-0.3i, P_0.0i, and iMAR-applied monochromatic images at 130 keV. The smallest volumes of high-density artifacts were noted in P_-0.3i. The CNRs were best in polychromatic images using a weighting factor of 0.4 with or without iMAR application, followed by polychromatic images using a weighting factor of 0.0 with or without iMAR application. Conclusion: Polychromatic images combined with iMAR application, P_-0.3i and P_0.0i, provided better image qualities and substantial metal artifact reduction compared with other image sets.