Journal of Diagnostics Concepts & Practice ›› 2022, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (03): 374-379.doi: 10.16150/j.1671-2870.2022.03.014

• Original articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The application of deep learning algorithm reconstruction in low tube voltage coronary CT angiography

FAN Jing1, YANG Wenjie1, WANG Mengzhen1, LU Wei2, SHI Xiaomeng2, ZHU Hong1()   

  1. 1. Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
    2. GE CT Imaging Research Center, Shanghai 201203, China
  • Received:2021-12-14 Online:2022-06-25 Published:2022-08-17
  • Contact: ZHU Hong E-mail:zh40423@rjh.com.cn

Abstract:

Objective: To compare the quality of low tube voltage coronary CT angiography (CCTA) images reconstructed with deep learning-based image reconstruction (DLIR) and with filter back projection (FBP) and with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-veo (ASiR-V). Methods: One hundred patients who underwent CCTA were included. The CCTA tube voltage were set as 70 kVp (n=50, BMI≤26 kg/m2) and 80 kVp (n=50, BMI>26 kg/m2) according to body mass index(BMI). The images were reconstructed with FBP (Group A), ASIR-V 50% (Group B), DLIR at medium (DLIR-M, Group C) and high DLIR(DLIR-H, Group D) levels, respectively. Objective evaluation indice including CT attenuation, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) were measured or calculated between groups, and Likert 5-point scale was adopted for subjective image quality assessment. Results: There were significant differences in image noise, SNR, CNR among the 4 groups(P<0.05), and Group D had the highest SNR and CNR, and lowest noise. There was no significant difference between Group C and Group D in subjective scores, but Group C and D both had higher subjective scores than those of Group A and B (P<0.05). Conclusions: For low tube voltage CCTA, images reconstructed with DLIR generate higher quality,and DLIR may be suitable to apply in low tube voltage CCTA.

Key words: Coronary CT angiography, Deep learning, Iterative reconstruction, Radiation dose, Image quality

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