Bowtie filter and water calibration in the improvement of cone beam CT image quality

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the improvement of cone beam CT (CBCT) image quality by using bewtie filter (F_1) and water calibration. Methods First the multi-level gain calibration of the detector panel with the method of Cal_2 calibration was performed, and the CT images of CATPHAN503 with F_0 and bowtic filter were collected, respectively. Then the detector panel using water calibration kit was calibrated, and images were acquired again. Finally, the change of image quality after using F_1 and (or) water calibration method was observed. The observed indexes included low contrast visibility, spatial uniformity, ring artifact, spatial resolution and geometric accuracy. Results Comparing with the traditional combination of F_0 filter and Cal_2 calibration, the combination of bowtie filter F_1 and water calibration improves low contrast visibility by 13.71%, and spatial uniformity by 54. 42%. Water calibration removes ring artifacts effectively. However, none of them improves spatial resolution and geometric accuracy. Conclusions The combination of F_1 and water calibration improves CBCT image quality effectively. This improvement is aid to the registration of CBCT images and localization images. Key words: Bowtie filter; Water calibration; Image quality; Tomograpby, X-ray computed, cone beam