Selection of optimal tube potential settings for dual-energy CT virtual mono-energetic imaging of iodine in the abdomen

Gregory Michalak, Joshua Grimes, Joel Fletcher, Ahmed Halaweish, Lifeng Yu, Shuai Leng, Cynthia McCollough

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the appropriate tube potential settings for dual-source, dual-energy data acquisition across a range of phantom sizes, and to determine the optimal photon energies for virtual mono-energetic imaging. Methods: Water phantoms (15–50-cm wide) containing an iodine test object were scanned on a third-generation dual-source CT scanner using all available tube potential pairs. Virtual mono-energetic images at 40, 50, 60, and 70 keV were produced using Mono-energetic Plus. To determine the practical operating parameters for the evaluated CT system, data exclusions were made based on water CT number accuracy, artifacts, and using a noise constraint. Image quality metrics were measured and compared. Results: Excluded tube potential pairs were identified; these were generally at low tube potentials for the low-energy beam and low photon energies. For non-excluded conditions, the highest CNR was obtained using the 70/150Sn setting in phantoms ≤35 cm at 40 keV. Conclusions: 70/150Sn provided optimal iodine CNR below 40 cm lateral phantom width at 40 keV, while 90/150Sn allowed acceptable image quality in phantoms >40-cm wide at or above 60 keV.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2289-2296
Number of pages8
JournalAbdominal Radiology
Volume42
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2017

Keywords

  • Dual-energy CT
  • Virtual mono-chromatic
  • Virtual mono-energetic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Gastroenterology
  • Urology

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