Effect of Gantry Speed on Image Quality of Four-dimensional Cone-beam Computed Tomography Using a Dynamic Phantom of Lung

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to determine the optimal imaging conditions for four-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (4D-CBCT) using an X-ray tube and a flat-panel detector mounted on a radiotherapy device. The optimal imaging conditions were examined by changing the gantry speed (GS) parameter that affected the exposure time. Exposed dose during imaging and image quality of moving phantom were compared between examined conditions. The weighted computed tomography dose index (CTDIW) decreased linearly with increasing GS. However, when GS was 180°/min or faster, the image quality degraded, and errors of 1 mm or more were observed regarding the size of mock tumor in the moving phantom. The accuracy of automatic image matching was within 0.1 mm when GS of 120°/min or slower was chosen. From the results of this study, we concluded that GS of 120°/min is the optimum imaging condition. Under this imaging condition, the exposure time and CTDIW can be reduced by about 50% without compromising the accuracy of image registration, compared to the conventional GS of 70°/min. In addition, it has been clarified that there is an event that image reconstruction is not performed correctly due to the influence of phantom artifacts without depending on GS.