title: Detection and measurement of rheumatoid bone and joint lesions of fingers by tomosynthesis: a phantom study for reconstruction filter setting optimization.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that is caused by autoimmunity. RA causes synovial proliferation, which may result in bone erosion and joint space narrowing in the affected joint. Tomosynthesis is a promising modality which may detect early bone lesions such as small bone erosion and slight joint space narrowing. Nevertheless, so far, the optimal reconstruction filter for detection of early bone lesions of fingers on tomosynthesis has not yet been known. Our purpose in this study was to determine an optimal reconstruction filter setting by using a bone phantom. We obtained images of a cylindrical phantom with holes simulating bone erosions (diameters of 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4 mm) and joint spaces by aligning two phantoms (space widths from 0.5 to 5.0 mm with 0.5 mm intervals), examining six reconstruction filters by using tomosynthesis. We carried out an accuracy test of the bone erosion size and joint space width, done by one radiological technologist, and a test to assess the visibility of bone erosion, done by five radiological technologists. No statistically significant difference was observed in the measured bone erosion size and joint space width among all of the reconstruction filters. In the visibility assessment test, reconstruction filters of Thickness+- and Thickness-- were among the best statistically in all characteristics except the signal-to-noise ratio. The Thickness+- and Thickness-- reconstruction filter may be optimal for evaluation of RA bone lesions of small joints in tomosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12 West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060 0812, Japan.
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12 West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060 0812, Japan. ktamotamo2@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamishima
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NTT East Japan Sapporo Hospital, South-1, West-15, Cyuo-ku, Sapporo, 060 0061, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobutoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yasojima
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Nihon University, Nakagawara, Tokusada, Tamuramachi, Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, 963 8642, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12 West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060 0812, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
keywords: Bone erosion; Bone phantom; Joint space narrowing; Reconstruction filter; Tomosynthesis