title: Evaluation of an iterative model-based reconstruction algorithm for low-tube-voltage (80 kVp) computed tomography angiography.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the improvement in diagnostic quality of an iterative model-based reconstruction (IMBR) algorithm for low-tube-voltage (80-kVp) and low-tube-current in abdominal computed tomography angiography (CTA). A total of 11 patients were imaged on a 256-slice multidetector computed tomography for visualization of the aorta. For all patients, three different reconstructions from the low-tube-voltage data are generated: filtered backprojection (FBP), IMBR, and a mixture of both [Formula: see text]. To determine the diagnostic value of IMBR-based reconstructions, the image quality was assessed. With IMBR-based reconstructions, image noise could be significantly reduced, which was confirmed by a highly improved contrast-to-noise ratio. In the image quality assessment, radiologists were able to reliably detect more third-order and higher aortic branches in the IMBR reconstructions compared to FBP reconstructions. The effective dose level was, on average, 3.0 mSv for 80-kVp acquisitions. Low-tube-voltage CTAs significantly improve vascular contrast as presented by others; however, this effect in combination with IMBR enabled yet another substantial improvement of diagnostic quality. For IMBR, a significant improvement of image quality and a decreased radiation dose at low-tube-voltage can be reported.
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Department of Radiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Noël
authors.affiliation: Philips Research Laboratories , Hamburg 22335, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Department of Radiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fingerle
authors.affiliation: Philips Healthcare , Cleveland, Ohio 44143, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Philips Healthcare , Cleveland, Ohio 44143, United States.
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zabic
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Department of Radiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Münzel
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Department of Radiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Department of Radiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henninger
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Department of Radiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Department of Radiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Rummeny
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität München , Department of Radiology, Munich 81675, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobritz
keywords: computed tomography; computed tomography angiography; dose reduction; iterative reconstruction; low-tube-current; low-tube-voltage