title: Quantitative Features of Liver Lesions, Lung Nodules, and Renal Stones at Multi-Detector Row CT Examinations: Dependency on Radiation Dose and Reconstruction Algorithm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if radiation dose and reconstruction algorithm affect the computer-based extraction and analysis of quantitative imaging features in lung nodules, liver lesions, and renal stones at multi-detector row computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter, HIPAA-compliant, institutional review board-approved clinical trial was performed by extracting 23 quantitative imaging features (size, shape, attenuation, edge sharpness, pixel value distribution, and texture) of lesions on multi-detector row CT images of 20 adult patients (14 men, six women; mean age, 63 years; range, 38-72 years) referred for known or suspected focal liver lesions, lung nodules, or kidney stones. Data were acquired between September 2011 and April 2012. All multi-detector row CT scans were performed at two different radiation dose levels; images were reconstructed with filtered back projection, adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction, and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithms. A linear mixed-effects model was used to assess the effect of radiation dose and reconstruction algorithm on extracted features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 23 imaging features assessed, radiation dose had a significant effect on five, three, and four of the features for liver lesions, lung nodules, and renal stones, respectively (P < .002 for all comparisons). Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction had a significant effect on three, one, and one of the features for liver lesions, lung nodules, and renal stones, respectively (P < .002 for all comparisons). MBIR reconstruction had a significant effect on nine, 11, and 15 of the features for liver lesions, lung nodules, and renal stones, respectively (P < .002 for all comparisons). Of note, the measured size of lung nodules and renal stones with MBIR was significantly different than those for the other two algorithms (P < .002 for all comparisons). Although lesion texture was significantly affected by the reconstruction algorithm used (average of 3.33 features affected by MBIR throughout lesion types; P < .002, for all comparisons), no significant effect of the radiation dose setting was observed for all but one of the texture features (P = .002-.998).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation dose settings and reconstruction algorithms affect the extraction and analysis of quantitative imaging features in lesions at multi-detector row CT.
authors.affiliation: From the Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2424 Erwin Rd, Suite 302, Durham, NC 27705.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: From the Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2424 Erwin Rd, Suite 302, Durham, NC 27705.
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mileto
authors.affiliation: From the Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2424 Erwin Rd, Suite 302, Durham, NC 27705.
authors.forename: Rendon C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: From the Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2424 Erwin Rd, Suite 302, Durham, NC 27705.
authors.forename: Kingshuk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roy Choudhury
authors.affiliation: From the Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2424 Erwin Rd, Suite 302, Durham, NC 27705.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies