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 language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2289-2296 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Abdominal Radiology |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 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