Semi-automatic measurement of the airway dimension by computed tomography using the full-with-half-maximum method: a study of the measurement accuracy according to the orientation of an artificial airway.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an algorithm to measure the dimensions of an airway oriented obliquely on a volumetric CT, as well as assess the effect of the imaging parameters on the correct measurement of the airway dimension.


METHODS
An airway phantom with 11 poly-acryl tubes of various lumen diameters and wall thicknesses was scanned using a 16-MDCT (multidetector CT) at various tilt angles (0, 30, 45, and 60 degrees ). The CT images were reconstructed at various reconstruction kernels and thicknesses. The axis of each airway was determined using the 3D thinning algorithm, with images perpendicular to the axis being reconstructed. The luminal radius and wall thickness was measured by the full-width-half-maximum method. The influence of the CT parameters (the size of the airways, obliquity on the radius and wall thickness) was assessed by comparing the actual dimension of each tube with the estimated values.


RESULTS
The 3D thinning algorithm correctly determined the axis of the oblique airway in all tubes (mean error: 0.91 +/- 0.82 degrees ). A sharper reconstruction kernel, thicker image thickness and larger tilt angle of the airway axis resulted in a significant decrease of the measured wall thickness and an increase of the measured luminal radius. Use of a standard kernel and a 0.75-mm slice thickness resulted in the most accurate measurement of airway dimension, which was independent of obliquity.


CONCLUSIONS
The airway obliquity and imaging parameters have a strong influence on the accuracy of the airway wall measurement. For the accurate measurement of airway thickness, the CT images should be reconstructed with a standard kernel and a 0.75 mm slice thickness.
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Namkug
N
Kim
Joon Beom
JB
Seo
Koun Sik
KS
Song
Eun Jin
EJ
Chae
Suk Ho
SH
Kang
D000465:Algorithms; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*