Evaluation of the impact of a novel denoising algorithm on image quality in dual-energy abdominal CT of obese patients.

Abstract

Objectives

Evaluate a novel algorithm for noise reduction in obese patients using dual-source dual-energy (DE) CT imaging.

Methods

Seventy-nine patients with contrast-enhanced abdominal imaging (54 women; age: 58 ± 14 years; BMI: 39 ± 5 kg/m2, range: 35-62 kg/m2) from seven DECT (SOMATOM Flash or Force) were retrospectively included (01/2019-12/2020). Image domain data were reconstructed with the standard clinical algorithm (ADMIRE/SAFIRE 2), and denoised with a comparison (ME-NLM) and a test algorithm (rank-sparse kernel regression). Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated. Four blinded readers evaluated the same original and denoised images (0 (worst)-100 (best)) in randomized order for perceived image noise, quality, and their comfort making a diagnosis from a table of 80 options. Comparisons between algorithms were performed using paired t-tests and mixed-effects linear modeling.

Results

Average CNR was 5.0 ± 1.9 (original), 31.1 ± 10.3 (comparison; p < 0.001), and 8.9 ± 2.9 (test; p < 0.001). Readers were in good to moderate agreement over perceived image noise (ICC: 0.83), image quality (ICC: 0.71), and diagnostic comfort (ICC: 0.6). Diagnostic accuracy was low across algorithms (accuracy: 66, 63, and 67% (original, comparison, test)). The noise received a mean score of 54, 84, and 66 (p < 0.05); image quality 59, 61, and 65; and the diagnostic comfort 63, 68, and 68, respectively. Quality and comfort scores were not statistically significantly different between algorithms.

Conclusions

The test algorithm produces quantitatively higher image quality than current standard and existing denoising algorithms in obese patients imaged with DECT and readers show a preference for it.

Clinical relevance statement

Accurate diagnosis on CT imaging of obese patients is challenging and denoising algorithms can increase the diagnostic comfort and quantitative image quality. This could lead to better clinical reads.

Key points

• Improving image quality in DECT imaging of obese patients is important for accurate and confident clinical reads, which may be aided by novel denoising algorithms using image domain data. • Accurate diagnosis on CT imaging of obese patients is especially challenging and denoising algorithms can increase quantitative and qualitative image quality. • Image domain algorithms can generalize well and can be implemented at other institutions.

Department

Description

Provenance

Citation

Published Version (Please cite this version)

10.1007/s00330-023-09644-7

Publication Info

Schwartz, Fides R, Darin P Clark, Francesca Rigiroli, Kevin Kalisz, Benjamin Wildman-Tobriner, Sarah Thomas, Joshua Wilson, Cristian T Badea, et al. (2023). Evaluation of the impact of a novel denoising algorithm on image quality in dual-energy abdominal CT of obese patients. European radiology. 10.1007/s00330-023-09644-7 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/27249.

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Scholars@Duke

Clark

Darin Clark

Assistant Professor in Radiology
Kalisz

Kevin Ryan Kalisz

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Thomas

Sarah Patricia Thomas

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Wilson

Joshua Wilson

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Badea

Cristian Tudorel Badea

Professor in Radiology

  • Our lab's research focus lies primarily in developing novel quantitative imaging systems, reconstruction algorithms and analysis methods.  My major expertise is in preclinical CT.
  • Currently, we are particularly interested in developing novel strategies for spectral CT imaging using nanoparticle-based contrast agents for theranostics (i.e. therapy and diagnostics).
  • We are also engaged in developing new approaches for multidimensional CT image reconstruction suitable to address difficult undersampling cases in cardiac and spectral CT (dual energy and photon counting) using compressed sensing and/or deep learning.


Marin

Daniele Marin

Associate Professor of Radiology

Liver Imaging
Dual Energy CT
CT Protocol Optimization
Dose Reduction Strategies for Abdominal CT Applications


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