Comparison of adaptive statistical iterative and filtered back projection reconstruction techniques in brain CT.
OBJECTIVE
To compare image quality and visualization of normal structures and lesions in brain computed tomography (CT) with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and filtered back projection (FBP) reconstruction techniques in different X-ray tube current-time products.


METHODS
In this IRB-approved prospective study, forty patients (nineteen men, twenty-one women; mean age 69.5 ± 11.2 years) received brain scan at different tube current-time products (300 and 200 mAs) in 64-section multi-detector CT (GE, Discovery CT750 HD). Images were reconstructed with FBP and four levels of ASIR-FBP blending. Two radiologists (please note that our hospital is renowned for its geriatric medicine department, and these two radiologists are more experienced in chronic cerebral vascular disease than in neoplastic disease, so this research did not contain cerebral tumors but as a discussion) assessed all the reconstructed images for visibility of normal structures, lesion conspicuity, image contrast and diagnostic confidence in a blinded and randomized manner. Volume CT dose index (CTDI(vol)) and dose-length product (DLP) were recorded. All the data were analyzed by using SPSS 13.0 statistical analysis software.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference between the image qualities at 200 mAs with 50% ASIR blending technique and 300 mAs with FBP technique (p>.05). While between the image qualities at 200 mAs with FBP and 300 mAs with FBP technique a statistically significant difference (p<.05) was found.


CONCLUSIONS
ASIR provided same image quality and diagnostic ability in brain imaging with greater than 30% dose reduction compared with FBP reconstruction technique.
Department of Radiology, Hua Dong Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China. renqg83@163.com
Qingguo
Q
Ren
Sheilesh Kumar
SK
Dewan
Ming
M
Li
Jianying
J
Li
Dingbiao
D
Mao
Zhenglei
Z
Wang
Yanqing
Y
Hua
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*