OBJECTIVES: To compare image quality on computed tomographic (CT) images acquired with filtered back-projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) techniques in CT kidney/ureter/bladder (KUB) examination.
METHODS: Eighteen patients underwent standard protocol CT KUB at our institution. The same raw data were reconstructed using FBP, ASIR and MBIR. Objective [mean image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for kidney and mean attenuation values of subcutaneous fat] and subjective image parameters (image noise, image contrast, overall visibility of kidneys/ureters/bladder, visibility of small structures, and overall diagnostic confidence) were assessed using a scoring system from 1 (best) to 5 (worst).
RESULTS: Objective image measurements revealed significantly less image noise and higher CNR and the same fat attenuation values for the MBIR technique (P < 0.05). MBIR scored best in all the subjective image parameters (P < 0.001) with averages ranging between 2.05-2.73 for MBIR, 2.95-3.10 for ASIR and 3.08-3.31 for FBP. No significant difference was observed between FBP and ASIR (P > 0.05), while there was a significant difference between ASIR vs. MBIR (P < 0.05). The mean effective dose was 3 mSv.
CONCLUSION: MBIR shows superior reduction in noise and improved image quality (both objective and subjective analysis) compared with ASIR and FBP CT KUB examinations.
Written by:
Vardhanabhuti V, Ilyas S, Gutteridge C, Freeman SJ, Roobottom CA. Are you the author?
Department of Radiology, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8DH, UK.
Reference: Insights Imaging. 2013 Oct;4(5):661-9.
doi: 10.1007/s13244-013-0273-5
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23929357
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