Accelerating an Ordered-Subset Low-Dose X-Ray Cone Beam Computed Tomography Image Reconstruction with a Power Factor and Total Variation Minimization

PLoS One. 2016 Apr 13;11(4):e0153421. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153421. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been increased interest in low-dose X-ray cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in many fields, including dentistry, guided radiotherapy and small animal imaging. Despite reducing the radiation dose, low-dose CBCT has not gained widespread acceptance in routine clinical practice. In addition to performing more evaluation studies, developing a fast and high-quality reconstruction algorithm is required. In this work, we propose an iterative reconstruction method that accelerates ordered-subsets (OS) reconstruction using a power factor. Furthermore, we combine it with the total-variation (TV) minimization method. Both simulation and phantom studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. Results show that the proposed method can accelerate conventional OS methods, greatly increase the convergence speed in early iterations. Moreover, applying the TV minimization to the power acceleration scheme can further improve the image quality while preserving the fast convergence rate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Computer Simulation
  • Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Humans
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*

Grants and funding

Funded by Ministry of Science Technology. Taiwan: MOST 104-2218-E-182-002 and MOST 103-2314-B-182-010-MY3 (https://www.most.gov.tw/) Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan: CMRPD1E0301, CIRPD3E0121, CMRPD1C0642 and CMRPD1C0672 (https://www.cgmh.org.tw/index.htm).