Reduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current

Abstract Background The low tube-voltage technique (e.g., 80 kV) can efficiently reduce the radiation dose and increase the contrast enhancement of vascular and parenchymal structures in abdominal CT. However, a high tube current is always required in this setting and limits the dose reduction poten...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shumeng Zhu, Baoping Zhang, Qian Tian, Ao Li, Zhe Liu, Wei Hou, Wenzhe Zhao, Xin Huang, Yao Xiao, Yiming Wang, Rui Wang, Yuhang Li, Jian Yang, Chao Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-024-02811-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850244432789504000
author Shumeng Zhu
Baoping Zhang
Qian Tian
Ao Li
Zhe Liu
Wei Hou
Wenzhe Zhao
Xin Huang
Yao Xiao
Yiming Wang
Rui Wang
Yuhang Li
Jian Yang
Chao Jin
author_facet Shumeng Zhu
Baoping Zhang
Qian Tian
Ao Li
Zhe Liu
Wei Hou
Wenzhe Zhao
Xin Huang
Yao Xiao
Yiming Wang
Rui Wang
Yuhang Li
Jian Yang
Chao Jin
author_sort Shumeng Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The low tube-voltage technique (e.g., 80 kV) can efficiently reduce the radiation dose and increase the contrast enhancement of vascular and parenchymal structures in abdominal CT. However, a high tube current is always required in this setting and limits the dose reduction potential. This study investigated the feasibility of a deep learning iterative reconstruction algorithm (Deep IR) in reducing the radiation dose while improving the image quality for abdominal computed tomography (CT) with low tube voltage and current. Methods Sixty patients (male/female, 36/24; Age, 57.72 ± 10.19 years) undergoing the abdominal portal venous phase CT were randomly divided into groups A (100 kV, automatic exposure control [AEC] with reference tube-current of 213 mAs) and B (80 kV, AEC with reference of 130 mAs). Images were reconstructed via hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and Deep IR (levels 1–5). The mean CT and standard deviation (SD) values of four regions of interest (ROI), i.e. liver, spleen, main portal vein and erector spinae at the porta hepatis level in each image serial were measured, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The image quality was subjectively scored by two radiologists using a 5-point criterion. Results A significant reduction in the radiation dose of 69.94% (5.09 ± 0.91 mSv vs. 1.53 ± 0.37 mSv) was detected in Group B compared with Group A. After application of the Deep IR, there was no significant change in the CT value, but the SD gradually increased. Group B had higher CT values than group A, and the portal vein CT values significantly differed between the groups (P < 0.003). The SNR and CNR in Group B with Deep IR at levels 1–5 were greater than those in Group A and significantly differed when HIR and Deep IR were applied at levels 1–3 of HIR and Deep IR (P < 0.003). The subjective scores (distortion, clarity of the portal vein, visibility of small structures and overall image quality) with Deep IR at levels 4–5 in Group B were significantly higher than those in group A with HIR (P < 0.003). Conclusion Deep IR algorithm can meet the clinical requirements and reduce the radiation dose by 69.94% in portal venous phase abdominal CT with a low tube voltage of 80 kV and a low tube current. Deep IR at levels 4–5 can significantly improve the image quality of the abdominal parenchymal organs and the clarity of the portal vein.
format Article
id doaj-art-d3fe197ff3a34ed6ac4f6df37cc35f2b
institution OA Journals
issn 1472-6947
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
spelling doaj-art-d3fe197ff3a34ed6ac4f6df37cc35f2b2025-08-20T01:59:43ZengBMCBMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making1472-69472024-12-012411910.1186/s12911-024-02811-wReduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube currentShumeng Zhu0Baoping Zhang1Qian Tian2Ao Li3Zhe Liu4Wei Hou5Wenzhe Zhao6Xin Huang7Yao Xiao8Yiming Wang9Rui Wang10Yuhang Li11Jian Yang12Chao Jin13Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityAbstract Background The low tube-voltage technique (e.g., 80 kV) can efficiently reduce the radiation dose and increase the contrast enhancement of vascular and parenchymal structures in abdominal CT. However, a high tube current is always required in this setting and limits the dose reduction potential. This study investigated the feasibility of a deep learning iterative reconstruction algorithm (Deep IR) in reducing the radiation dose while improving the image quality for abdominal computed tomography (CT) with low tube voltage and current. Methods Sixty patients (male/female, 36/24; Age, 57.72 ± 10.19 years) undergoing the abdominal portal venous phase CT were randomly divided into groups A (100 kV, automatic exposure control [AEC] with reference tube-current of 213 mAs) and B (80 kV, AEC with reference of 130 mAs). Images were reconstructed via hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and Deep IR (levels 1–5). The mean CT and standard deviation (SD) values of four regions of interest (ROI), i.e. liver, spleen, main portal vein and erector spinae at the porta hepatis level in each image serial were measured, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The image quality was subjectively scored by two radiologists using a 5-point criterion. Results A significant reduction in the radiation dose of 69.94% (5.09 ± 0.91 mSv vs. 1.53 ± 0.37 mSv) was detected in Group B compared with Group A. After application of the Deep IR, there was no significant change in the CT value, but the SD gradually increased. Group B had higher CT values than group A, and the portal vein CT values significantly differed between the groups (P < 0.003). The SNR and CNR in Group B with Deep IR at levels 1–5 were greater than those in Group A and significantly differed when HIR and Deep IR were applied at levels 1–3 of HIR and Deep IR (P < 0.003). The subjective scores (distortion, clarity of the portal vein, visibility of small structures and overall image quality) with Deep IR at levels 4–5 in Group B were significantly higher than those in group A with HIR (P < 0.003). Conclusion Deep IR algorithm can meet the clinical requirements and reduce the radiation dose by 69.94% in portal venous phase abdominal CT with a low tube voltage of 80 kV and a low tube current. Deep IR at levels 4–5 can significantly improve the image quality of the abdominal parenchymal organs and the clarity of the portal vein.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-024-02811-wLow tube voltageDeep learning iterative reconstruction algorithmRadiation doseImage qualityAbdomenPortal vein
spellingShingle Shumeng Zhu
Baoping Zhang
Qian Tian
Ao Li
Zhe Liu
Wei Hou
Wenzhe Zhao
Xin Huang
Yao Xiao
Yiming Wang
Rui Wang
Yuhang Li
Jian Yang
Chao Jin
Reduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Low tube voltage
Deep learning iterative reconstruction algorithm
Radiation dose
Image quality
Abdomen
Portal vein
title Reduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current
title_full Reduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current
title_fullStr Reduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current
title_full_unstemmed Reduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current
title_short Reduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current
title_sort reduced dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current
topic Low tube voltage
Deep learning iterative reconstruction algorithm
Radiation dose
Image quality
Abdomen
Portal vein
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-024-02811-w
work_keys_str_mv AT shumengzhu reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT baopingzhang reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT qiantian reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT aoli reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT zheliu reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT weihou reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT wenzhezhao reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT xinhuang reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT yaoxiao reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT yimingwang reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT ruiwang reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT yuhangli reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT jianyang reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent
AT chaojin reduceddosedeeplearningiterativereconstructionforabdominalcomputedtomographywithlowtubevoltageandtubecurrent