title: Reducing image noise in computed tomography (CT) colonography: effect of an integrated circuit CT detector.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the integrated circuit (IC) detector results in reduced noise in computed tomography (CT) colonography (CTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred sixty-six consecutive patients underwent clinically indicated CTC using the same CT scanner system, except for a difference in CT detectors (IC or conventional). Image noise, patient size, and scanner radiation output (volume CT dose index) were quantitatively compared between patient cohorts using each detector system, with separate comparisons for the abdomen and pelvis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the abdomen and pelvis, despite significantly larger patient sizes in the IC detector cohort (both P < 0.001), image noise was significantly lower (both P < 0.001), whereas volume CT dose index was unchanged (both P > 0.18). Based on the observed image noise reduction, radiation dose could alternatively be reduced by approximately 20% to result in similar levels of image noise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computed tomography colonography images acquired using the IC detector had significantly lower noise than images acquired using the conventional detector. This noise reduction can permit further radiation dose reduction in CTC.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and †Siemens Medical Solutions, Malvern, PA.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vrieze
authors.forename: Xinhui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Mingliang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shiung
authors.forename: Cynthia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: McCollough
authors.forename: Joel G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012666:Semiconductors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D014159:Transducers