Faster Gantry Rotation Speeds Research Articles

Artificial intelligence in image reconstruction: The change is here.

Innovations in CT have been impressive among imaging and medical technologies in both the hardware and software domain. The range and speed of CT scanning improved from the introduction of multidetector-row CT scanners with wide-array detectors and faster gantry rotation speeds. To tackle concerns over rising radiation doses from its increasing use and to improve image quality, CT reconstruction techniques evolved from filtered back projection to commercial release of iterative reconstruction techniques, and recently, of deep learning (DL)-based image reconstruction. These newer reconstruction techniques enable improved or retained image quality versus filtered back projection at lower radiation doses. DL can aid in image reconstruction with training data without total reliance on the physical model of the imaging process, unique artifacts of PCD-CT due to charge sharing, K-escape, fluorescence x-ray emission, and pulse pileups can be handled in the data-driven fashion. With sufficiently reconstructed images, a well-designed network can be trained to upgrade image quality over a practical/clinical threshold or define new/killer applications. Besides, the much smaller detector pixel for PCD-CT can lead to huge computational costs with traditional model-based iterative reconstruction methods whereas deep networks can be much faster with training and validation. In this review, we present techniques, applications, uses, and limitations of deep learning-based image reconstruction methods in CT.

Image acquisition optimization of a limited-angle intrafraction verification (LIVE) system for lung radiotherapy.

Limited-angle intrafraction verification (LIVE) has been previously developed for four-dimensional (4D) intrafraction target verification either during arc delivery or between three-dimensional (3D)/IMRT beams. Preliminary studies showed that LIVE can accurately estimate the target volume using kV/MV projections acquired over orthogonal view 30° scan angles. Currently, the LIVE imaging acquisition requires slow gantry rotation and is not clinically optimized. The goal of this study is to optimize the image acquisition parameters of LIVE for different patient respiratory periods and gantry rotation speeds for the effective clinical implementation of the system. Limited-angle intrafraction verification imaging acquisition was optimized using a digital anthropomorphic phantom (XCAT) with simulated respiratory periods varying from 3 s to 6 s and gantry rotation speeds varying from 1°/s to 6°/s. LIVE scanning time was optimized by minimizing the number of respiratory cycles needed for the four-dimensional scan, and imaging dose was optimized by minimizing the number of kV and MV projections needed for four-dimensional estimation. The estimation accuracy was evaluated by calculating both the center-of-mass-shift (COMS) and three-dimensional volume-percentage-difference (VPD) between the tumor in estimated images and the ground truth images. The robustness of LIVE was evaluated with varied respiratory patterns, tumor sizes, and tumor locations in XCAT simulation. A dynamic thoracic phantom (CIRS) was used to further validate the optimized imaging schemes from XCAT study with changes of respiratory patterns, tumor sizes, and imaging scanning directions. Respiratory periods, gantry rotation speeds, number of respiratory cycles scanned and number of kV/MV projections acquired were all positively correlated with the estimation accuracy of LIVE. Faster gantry rotation speed or longer respiratory period allowed less respiratory cycles to be scanned and less kV/MV projections to be acquired to estimate the target volume accurately. Regarding the scanning time minimization, for patient respiratory periods of 3-4 s, gantry rotation speeds of 1°/s, 2°/s, 3-6°/s required scanning of five, four, and three respiratory cycles, respectively. For patient respiratory periods of 5-6 s, the corresponding respiratory cycles required in the scan changed to four, three, and two cycles, respectively. Regarding the imaging dose minimization, for patient respiratory periods of 3-4 s, gantry rotation speeds of 1°/s, 2-4°/s, 5-6°/s required acquiring of 7, 5, 4 kV and MV projections, respectively. For patient respiratory periods of 5-6 s, 5 kV and 5 MV projections are sufficient for all gantry rotation speeds. The optimized LIVE system was robust against breathing pattern, tumor size and tumor location changes. In the CIRS study, the optimized LIVE system achieved the average center-of-mass-shift (COMS)/volume-percentage-difference (VPD) of 0.3 ± 0.1 mm/7.7 ± 2.0% for the scanning time priority case, 0.2 ± 0.1 mm/6.1 ± 1.2% for the imaging dose priority case, respectively, among all gantry rotation speeds tested. LIVE was robust against different scanning directions investigated. The LIVE system has been preliminarily optimized for different patient respiratory periods and treatment gantry rotation speeds using digital and physical phantoms. The optimized imaging parameters, including number of respiratory cycles scanned and kV/MV projection numbers acquired, provide guidelines for optimizing the scanning time and imaging dose of the LIVE system for its future evaluations and clinical implementations through patient studies.

Improved image quality at 256-slice coronary CT angiography in patients with a high heart rate and coronary artery disease: comparison with 64-slice CT imaging.

The 256-slice computed tomography (CT) scanners with wider detector coverage and faster gantry rotation speed are now available. The performance of scanners that feature a rotation speed of 270 ms at coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has not been evaluated in patients with a higher heart rate. To evaluate the image quality of 256-slice CT with faster gantry rotation speed in patients undergoing CCTA. We enrolled 886 patients; 357(40.3%) underwent study on a 64-slice CT at a rotation speed of 420 ms, the other 529 (59.7%) were examined using a 256-slice CT scanner at 270 ms. Two observers judged the image quality of 2658 imaged coronary arteries on a 4-point scale. The mean image quality score was significantly higher for the 256 - than the 64-slice CT scans (3.94 ± 0.28 vs. 3.73 ± 0.61; P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the image quality scores between 64 - and 256-slice scans in patients whose heart rate (HR) was <60 bpm. However, in patients whose HR exceeded 60 bpm these scores were significantly higher for 256-slice CT images (P < 0.01). CCTA performed on the 256-slice CT scanner yielded significantly better image quality in patients with an HR exceeding 60 bpm.

CT Coronary Angiography: 256-Slice and 320-Detector Row Scanners

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has rapidly evolved from 4-detector row systems in 1998 to 256-slice and 320-detector row CT systems. With smaller detector element size and faster gantry rotation speed, spatial and temporal resolution of the 64-detector MDCT scanners have made coronary artery imaging a reliable clinical test. Wide-area coverage MDCT, such as the 256-slice and 320-detector row MDCT scanners, has enabled volumetric imaging of the entire heart free of stair-step artifacts at a single time point within one cardiac cycle. It is hoped that these improvements will be realized with greater diagnostic accuracy of CT coronary angiography. Such scanners hold promise in performing a rapid high quality "triple rule-out" test without high contrast load, improved myocardial perfusion imaging, and even four-dimensional CT subtraction angiography. These emerging technical advances and novel applications will continue to change the way we study coronary artery disease beyond detecting luminal stenosis.

An investigation of temporal resolution parameters in cine‐mode four‐dimensional computed tomography acquisition

The accuracy of four‐dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) imaging depends on temporal characteristics of the acquisition protocol—for example, the temporal spacing of the reconstructed images (also known as cine duration between images) and the gantry rotation speed. These parameters affect the temporal resolution of 4DCT images, and a single default acquisition protocol, as commonly used in most clinics, may be suboptimal for a subset of respiratory motion characteristics. It could lead to substantial inaccuracies in target delineation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interplay between parameters affecting temporal resolution and the accuracy of the resulting images.We acquired 4DCT images of cylindrical phantoms under repetitive motion induced by a translation platform. Acquisition settings varied with respect to temporal spacing, gantry rotation speed, and motion period of the phantoms. Reconstructed images were sorted into 10 phase bins and were compared to static phantom images acquired at corresponding positions of the respiration phase. Acquisitions with different temporal spacing did not play a significant role in the amount of motion observed in full‐cycle maximum intensity projection images. Target delineation accuracy at end‐of‐inhalation phase was observed to be constant up to a threshold in the value of the reconstruction interval, beyond which it varied arbitrarily. This threshold was found to be correlated with the number of phase bins and the motion period. No observable variations were noted with images from the end of exhalation when temporal spacing was varied. Target delineation accuracy was observed to be enhanced in acquisitions using faster gantry rotation speeds. An evaluation of the acquisition parameters needs to be performed depending on the period of the motion and limiting factors such as the availability of acquisition settings, X‐ray tube workload, image storage, and processing power.PACS numbers: 87.53.Xd, 87.57.‐s, 87.57.Gg, 87.59.Fm

Cardiac imaging using 256-detector row four-dimensional CT: preliminary clinical report

Along with the increase of detector rows on the z-axis and a faster gantry rotation speed, the spatial and temporal resolutions of the multislice computed tomography (CT) have been improved for noninvasive coronary artery imaging. We investigated the feasibility of the second specification prototype 256-detector row four-dimensional CT for assessing coronary artery and cardiac function. The subjects were five patients with coronary artery disease. Contrast medium (40-60 ml) was intravenously administered at the rate of 3-4 ml/s. The patient's whole heart was scanned for 1.5 s to cover at least one cardiac cycle during breathholding without electrocardiographic gating. Parameters used were 0.5 mm slice thickness, 0.5 s/rotation, 120 Kv, and 350 mA, with a half-scan reconstruction algorithm (temporal resolution 250 ms). Twenty-six transaxial datasets were reconstructed at intervals of 50 ms. The assessability of the coronary arteries in AHA segments 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11 was visually evaluated, resulting in 29 of 32 (90.9%) segments being assessable. Functional assessment was also performed using animated movies without banding artifacts in all cases. The 256-detector row four-dimensional CT can assess the coronary artery and cardiac function using data during 1.5 s without banding artifacts.