A Novel Low-Dose Dual-Energy Imaging Method for a Fast-Rotating Gantry-Type CT Scanner

IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2021 Mar;40(3):1007-1020. doi: 10.1109/TMI.2020.3044357. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Abstract

CT scan by use of a beam-filter placed between the x-ray source and the patient allows a single-scan low-dose dual-energy imaging with a minimal hardware modification to the existing CT systems. We have earlier demonstrated the feasibility of such imaging method with a multi-slit beam-filter reciprocating along the direction perpendicular to the CT rotation axis in a cone-beam CT system. However, such method would face mechanical challenges when the beam-filter is supposed to cooperate with a fast-rotating gantry in a diagnostic CT system. In this work, we propose a new scanning method and associated image reconstruction algorithm that can overcome these challenges. We propose to slide a beam-filter that has multi-slit structure with its slits being at a slanted angle with the CT gantry rotation axis during a scan. A streaky pattern would show up in the sinogram domain as a result. Using a notch filter in the Fourier domain of the sinogram, we removed the streaks and reconstructed an image by use of the filtered-backprojection algorithm. The remaining image artifacts were suppressed by applying l0 norm based smoothing. Using this image as a prior, we have reconstructed low- and high-energy CT images in the iterative reconstruction framework. An image-based material decomposition then followed. We conducted a simulation study to test its feasibility using the XCAT phantom and also an experimental study using the Catphan phantom, a head phantom, an iodine-solution phantom, and a monkey in anesthesia, and showed its successful performance in image reconstruction and in material decomposition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Artifacts
  • Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
  • Head / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*