Patient radiation exposure and image quality evaluation with the use of iDose4 iterative reconstruction algorithm in chest-abdomen-pelvis CT examinations

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of iDose(4) iterative reconstruction algorithm on radiation dose and imaging quality at chest-abdomen-pelvis (CAP) CT examinations. Seventeen patients were considered; all patients had a previous CT scan with the standard filter back-projection (FBP) protocol and a follow-up scan with the iDose(4) protocol at the same scanner. Image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were objectively calculated. Two radiologists evaluated noise, sharpness, contrast, diagnostic confidence and artefacts. Radiation exposure quantities were calculated. iDose(4) resulted in 46 % dose reduction combined with significantly lower noise and higher SNR and CNR compared with FBP. iDose(4) images had significantly lower subjective image noise and enhanced sharpness and contrast. Diagnostic confidence was high and image artefacts were minor for both algorithms. iDose(4) provides great potential for reducing patient radiation burden while improving imaging quality in CAP CT examinations.