An increasing use of computed tomography (CT) in modern medicine has raised radiation dose issues. Strategies for low-dose CT imaging are necessary in order to prevent side effects. Among the strategies, limited-angle CT scans are being used for reducing radiation dose. However, the limited angle scans cause severe artifacts in the images reconstructed by using conventional reconstruction algorithms, such as filtered back-projection (FBP), due to insufficient data. To solve this issue, various methods have been proposed to replace conventional reconstruction algorithms. In this study, we proposed a data-driven deep learning-based limited-angle CT reconstruction method. The proposed method, called Recon-NET, consisted of 3 fully connected (FC) layers, 5 convolution layers and 1 deconvolution layer, and the Recon-NET learned the end-to-end mapping between projection and reconstructed image data. The FBP algorithm was implemented for comparison with the Recon-NET. Also, we evaluated the performance of the Recon-NET in terms of image profile, mean-squared error (MSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM). The results showed that the proposed model could reduce artifacts and preserve image details comparing to the conventional reconstruction algorithm. Therefore, the Recon-NET has the potential to provide high-quality CT images with low-dose and reject the complexity of conventional techniques.
Stationary inverse-geometry digital tomosynthesis (s-IGDT) has advantages in terms of motion artifact reduction and diagnostic efficiency improvement. However, truncation artifacts are caused in reconstructed images owing to the geometric characteristics of s-IGDT systems, and this drawback degrades the diagnostic accuracy. In order to overcome this limitation, we proposed a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based truncation artifact reduction method. We simulated a s-IGDT system with stationary X-ray source array and small detector. Also, we acquired s-IGDT images using 70 volumetric phantoms based on the SPIE-AAPM lung CT challenge dataset. The U-Net was used as the CNN architecture, and we trained the network through 207 s-IGDT images. We confirmed that the truncation artifacts with various patterns included in the prior images were clearly removed in the prediction images obtained by the trained network. Moreover, the quantitative evaluation showed that both of the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) improved when using the proposed method. The averaged SSIM and PSNR of the prediction images were approximately 6% and 25% higher than those of the prior images, respectively. In conclusion, the proposed model based on the CNN has superior performance in removing the truncation artifacts of s-IGDT images.
Digital tomosynthesis (DTS) has been used in diagnosis and radiation therapy due to its performance and benefits. DTS is able to provide 3D images with good depth resolution comparing to conventional radiography and reduce radiation dose comparing to computed tomography (CT). However, DTS scans with limited scan angles and a few projections lead to the insufficiency in data acquisition. Such a drawback causes the alteration of image characteristics and the distortion of image quality in DTS imaging. These issues can be magnified by the geometric variations of the DTS systems and the imaging strategies. In this study, the effect of geometric variations on image characteristics was evaluated by the DTS systems simulated with various X-ray source scan trajectories and angles. The DTS images were analyzed in terms of noise property, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and spatial resolution. The results showed that the quality of DTS images was highly dependent on X-ray source scan trajectories and angles, and the characteristics of DTS images varied according to their acquisition geometries. Therefore, the geometries and strategies for DTS imaging should be appropriately determined for optimizing their systems and applications.
According to an increased use of computed tomography (CT) in medicine, the risk caused by radiation exposure has been considered as one of the major issues. In order to reduce the risk, low-dose CT imaging has attracted attention. However, the low-dose CT imaging causes low spatial resolution (LR) and high noise in reconstructed images. Recently, deep learning-based models have shown a feasibility for reducing noise and improving spatial resolution. However, these models have the drawbacks such as complex structures, large sample size and computational costs. In this study, a simple denoising and super-resolution convolutional neural network (SDSRCNN) was proposed to overcome the limitations of conventional methods. Two networks were trained for the denoising and super-resolution imaging separately, and the trained networks were linearly combined as a single network with a simple architecture. In comparison with conventional methods, denoise-autoencoder (DAE) and super-resolution convolutional neural network (SRCNN) were also implemented. We evaluated the performance of the SDSRCNN in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index measure (SSIM). The results showed that the proposed model could efficiently reduce noise and preserve spatial resolution information comparing the conventional methods. Therefore, the proposed model has the potential for improving the quality of CT images and rejecting the complexity of the conventional methods.
KEYWORDS: Denoising, Modulation transfer functions, Spatial resolution, Mammography, Image quality, Digital mammography, Monte Carlo methods, Image processing
With an increase of breast cancer patients, dual-energy mammographic techniques have been advanced for improving diagnostic accuracy. In general, conventional dual-energy techniques increase radiation dose because the techniques are based on double exposures. Dual-energy techniques with photon-counting detectors (PCDs) can be implemented by using a single exposure. However, the images obtained from the dual-energy techniques with the PCDs suffer from statistical noise because the dual-energy measurements were performed with a single exposure, causing a lack of the number of effective photons. Thus, the material decomposition accuracy is decreased, and the image quality is distorted. In this study, denoising and deblurring techniques were iteratively applied to a dual-energy mammographic technique based on a PCD, and we evaluated RMSE, noise, and CNR for the quantitative analysis of material decomposition. The results showed that the RMSE value was about 0.23 times lower for the decomposed images with the denoising and deblurring techniques than that without the denoising and deblurring techniques. The noise and CNR of the decomposed images were averagely decreased and increased by factors of 0.23 and 4.17, respectively, through the denoising and deblurring techniques. But, the iterative application of the debelurring technique slightly increased the RMSE and noise. Therefore, it is considered that the material decomposition accuracy and image quality can be improved by applying the denoising and deblurring techniques with the appropriate iterations.
Digital tomosynthesis (DT) improves the diagnostic accuracy compared with 2D radiography due to the good depth resolution. In addition, the DT can reduce radiation dose by more than 80% compared to computed tomography (CT) owing to the scans with limited angles. However, the conventional DT systems have the disadvantages such as geometric complexity and low efficiency. Moreover, the movements of source and detector cause motion artifacts in reconstructed images. Therefore, with the stationary X-ray source and detector, it is possible to reduce the artifacts by simplifying the geometry while preserving the advantages of DT imaging. Also, the geometric inversion with a small detector allows the more efficient diagnosis because fields-of-view (FOVs) can be smaller than the conventional DT systems. The purpose of this study was to develop the stationary inverse-geometry digital tomosynthesis (s-IGDT) imaging technique and compare image quality for linear and curved X-ray source arrays. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of s-IGDT images obtained by using the linear X-ray source array was averagely 1.84 times higher than that using the curved X-ray source array due to low noise components, but the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was averagely 3.25 times higher. The modulation-transfer function (MTF) and radiation dose of the s-IGDT systems with the linear and curved X-ray source arrays were measured at similar levels. As a result, the s-IGDT system with the linear X-ray source array is superior in terms of SNR and noise property, and the curved X-ray array system is superior in terms of quantitative accuracy.
Recently, image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been used to precisely identify the location of target lesion. However, the treatment accuracy for respiratory-sensitive regions is still low, and the imaging dose is also relatively high. These issues can be solved by using the respiratory-correlated 4D IGRT with digital tomosynthesis (DT). The purpose of this study was to develop the 4D DT imaging technique for the IGRT and compare image quality between the 3D DT and 4D DT. A DT model was based on a linear accelerator (LINAC) system. In order to simulate the motion of a lesion the sphere defined in a 3D phantom was moved with an irregular pattern. Projections were separately obtained through 3 phases, which were sorted according to the position of the sphere, for simulating the 4D DT imaging. We measured profile, normalized root-mean-square error (NRMSE), noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and figure-of-merit (FOM). Noise of 4D DT images was averagely 0.99 times lower than 3D DT images. And, NRMSEs, CNRs, and FOMs of 4D DT images were averagely 1.03, 1.22, and 4.48 times higher than those of 3D DT images, respectively. The results showed that the 4D DT imaging technique accurately determined the position of a moving target and improved image quality compared to the 3D DT imaging technique. These benefits will enable the high-precision IGRT for respiratory-sensitive regions.
KEYWORDS: Lung, Xenon, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, X-rays, Polymethylmethacrylate, Pulmonary function tests, Monte Carlo methods, Sensors, Signal attenuation, X-ray imaging
Due to various factors, the number of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients continues to increase. In addition, the mortality from COPD is increasing because of the difficult in the early detection of COPD. Radiologic and respiratory examinations should be performed simultaneously for improving the diagnostic accuracy of COPD. But a conventional respiratory examination leads to diagnostic inaccuracy and decreases the reproducibility of examinations because there is air leakage between spirometry and mouth. Also, it is difficult to apply for all ages. In this study, we confirmed the possibility of material decomposition for pulmonary function test by combining dual-energy X-ray images obtained from a photon counting detector. Non-radioactive Xe, which appears in X-ray images, was also used. The RMSE of each material in decomposed images was analyzed to quantitatively evaluate of the possibility of material decomposition for pulmonary function test. Results showed that the average RMSE values of PMMA, lung and nonradioactive Xe were 0.005, 0.0199 and 0.0217, respectively, and we observed the high accuracy of material decomposition. Therefore, the diagnosis of COPD can be simplified through the material decomposition imaging using non-radiologic Xe, and the lung function can be evaluated by decomposing the total lung and actual gas exchange areas.
With the advent of the coherent age the implementation of massive digital signal processors (DSP) co-integrated with high speed AD and DA converters became feasible allowing for the realization of huge flexibility of transponders. Today the implementation of variable transponders is mainly based on variable programming of DSP to support different modulation formats and symbol rates. Modulation formats with high flexibility are required such as pragmatic QAM formats and hybrid modulation formats. Furthermore, we report on an implementable probabilistically shaping technique allowing for adjusting the bitrate. We introduce fundamental characteristics of all modes and describe basic operation principles. The modifications of the operational modes are enabled simply by switching between different formats and symbol rates in the DSP to adjust the transponders spectral efficiency, the bitrate and the maximum transmission distance. A fine granularity in bitrate and in maximum transmission distance can be implemented especially by hybrid formats and by probabilistically shaped formats. Furthermore, latter allow for ~+25% increase of the maximum transmission distance due their operation close to the Shannon limit as a consequence of their 2D Gaussian like signal nature. If the flexibility and programmability of transponders is implemented, it can be utilized to support different strategies for the application. The variability in symbol rate is mainly translated into variability in bitrate and in bandwidth consumption. Contrary the variable spectral efficiency translates into a variation of the maximum transmission reach and of the bitrate. A co-adjustment of both options will lead to a superior flexibility of optical transponders to address all requirements from application, transponder and fiber infrastructure perspective.
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