Adaptive Image Rescaling for Weakly Contrast-Enhanced Lesions in Dedicated Breast CT: A Phantom Study

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Authors: Bitbyeol Kim ; Ho Kyung Kim ; Jinsung Kim ; Yongkan Ki ; Ji Hyeon Joo ; Hosang Jeon ; Dahl Park ; Wontaek Kim ; Jiho Nam ; Dong Hyeon Kim

Citation: Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회지), Vol.82(6) : 1477-1492, 2021-11

Keywords: Breast Cancer ; Computed Tomography , X-Ray ; Contrast Agent ; Image Quality Enhancement

Abstract: Purpose
Dedicated breast CT is an emerging volumetric X-ray imaging modality for diagnosis that does not require any painful breast compression. To improve the detection rate of weakly enhanced lesions, an adaptive image rescaling (AIR) technique was proposed.

Materials and Methods
Two disks containing five identical holes and five holes of different diameters were scanned using 60/100 kVp to obtain single-energy CT (SECT), dual-energy CT (DECT), and AIR images. A piece of pork was also scanned as a subclinical trial. The image quality was evaluated using image contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The difference of imaging performances was confirmed using student's t test.

Results
Total mean image contrast of AIR (0.70) reached 74.5% of that of DECT (0.94) and was higher than that of SECT (0.22) by 318.2%. Total mean CNR of AIR (5.08) was 35.5% of that of SECT (14.30) and was higher than that of DECT (2.28) by 222.8%. A similar trend was observed in the subclinical study.

Conclusion
The results demonstrated superior image contrast of AIR over SECT, and its higher overall image quality compared to DECT with half the exposure. Therefore, AIR seems to have the potential to improve the detectability of lesions with dedicated breast CT.