title: Dedicated mobile volumetric cone-beam computed tomography for human brain imaging: A phantom study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mobile computed tomography (CT) with a cone-beam source is increasingly used in the clinical field. Mobile cone-beam CT (CBCT) has great merits; however, its clinical utility for brain imaging has been limited due to problems including scan time and image quality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop a dedicated mobile volumetric CBCT for obtaining brain images, and to optimize the imaging protocol using a brain phantom.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mobile volumetric CBCT system was evaluated with regards to scan time and image quality, measured as signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR), spatial resolution (10% MTF), and effective dose. Brain images were obtained using a CT phantom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CT scan took 5.14 s at 360 projection views. SNR and CNR were 5.67 and 14.5 at 120 kV/10 mA. SNR and CNR values showed slight improvement as the x-ray voltage and current increased (p < 0.001). Effective dose and 10% MTF were 0.92 mSv and 360 μ m at 120 kV/10 mA. Various intracranial structures were clearly visible in the brain phantom images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using this CBCT under optimal imaging acquisition conditions, it is possible to obtain human brain images with low radiation dose, reproducible image quality, and fast scan time.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Science-based Lung and Bone Disease Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Imaging Science-based Lung and Bone Disease Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Imaging Science-based Lung and Bone Disease Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Imaging Science-based Lung and Bone Disease Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Imaging Science-based Lung and Bone Disease Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Woon
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Imaging Science-based Lung and Bone Disease Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinseok
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Nanofocusray, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyong-Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Imaging Science-based Lung and Bone Disease Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.|Department of Radiology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwon-Ha
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging
keywords: Cone-beam computed tomography; brain imaging; dedicated mobile CT; volumetric computed tomography