影响DR图像质量因素分析

目的研究影响DR图像质量因素和规避。方法通过DR成像系统成像后,经工作站后处理,调整至最佳传至激光相机打片。选取600幅照片,其中男性326例,女性274例;年龄2天～78岁,平均年龄45岁。照片所摄部位以胸片、脊柱片、四肢骨和关节片为主,通过X射线评片标准,对其质量进行评价,探讨影响成像质量因素。结果甲级片498张,非甲级片102张。通过着重对非甲级片分析,影响DR图像质量因素如下。①技术人员的操作技能和业务技术水平。此原因所致68张,占66%。②摄片技术参数。此原因所致23张,占23%。③机器性能。此原因所致3张,占3%。④图像后处理技术。此原因所致6张,占6%。⑤激光相机。此原因所致2张,占2%。结论影响DR照片质量因素很多,技术人员的操作技能和水平是其主要因素。应用DR设备过程中,只有不断提高技术人员的综合素质水平,规范操作和不断总结使用经验,增强对设备原理的学习,探索更多临床经验,才能得到质量更佳图像照片。     

直接数字化X线摄影在腰椎侧位影像中的应用价值

目的 探讨直接数字化X线摄影( direct digitized radiography, DDR)在腰椎侧位影像中的应用价值.方法 随机抽取81例患者的DDR腰椎侧位影像,使用图像后处理方法中多级图像对比增益法,又称"交响乐"功能(multi-scale image contrast amplification, MUSICA)进行后处理,同时取另81例患者进行普通X线摄影,由放射科经验丰富的医生、技师各2名对所有的腰椎侧位影像进行分析,采用常规影像质量评价指标评价两组的影像质量.结果 (1)DDR腰椎侧位影像质量影像评分为13.00,普通X线影像评分为8.96,经非参数检验的配对符号秩和检验,依赖负秩计算的统计量(Z＝-7.88,P＜0.01),两组差异有统计学意义,DDR腰椎侧位组明显优于普通平片组;(2)81例中DDR腰椎图像显示满意率为92.6%(75/81), 普通X线平片显示满意率为61.7%(50/81) ,两者差异有统计学意义(χ2 = 21.89, P＜0.01). 结论 与普通X线影像相比,DDR影像能更好的显示下部腰椎椎体、附件及周围软组织,可获得良好的图像,有利于放射诊断工作.     

直接数字化X线摄影在腰椎侧位影像中的应用价值

目的探讨直接数字化X线摄影（direct digitized radiography，DDR）在腰椎侧位影像中的应用价值。方法随机抽取81例患者的DDR腰椎侧位影像，使用图像后处理方法中多级图像对比增益法，又称“交响乐”功能（multi—scale image contrast amplification，MUSICA）进行后处理，同时取另81例患者进行普通X线摄影，由放射科经验丰富的医生、技师各2名对所有的腰椎侧位影像进行分析，采用常规影像质量评价指标评价两组的影像质量。结果（1）DDR腰椎侧位影像质量影像评分为13．00，普通X线影像评分为8．96，经非参数检验的配对符号秩和检验，依赖负秩计算的统计量（X^2=-7．88，P〈0．01），两组差异有统计学意义，DDR腰椎侧位组明显优于普通平片组；（2）81例中DDR腰椎图像显示满意率为92．6％（75／81），普通X线平片显示满意率为61．7％（50／81），两者差异有统计学意义（X^2=21．89，P〈0．01）。结论与普通X线影像相比，DDR影像能更好的显示下部腰椎椎体、附件及周围软组织，可获得良好的图像，有利于放射诊断工作。     

婴幼儿胸部DR摄影源像距与辐射剂量和图像质量的相关性研究

目的 探讨婴幼儿胸部数字X射线摄影(DR)的源像距(SID)与图像质量及辐射剂量的相关性.方法 先进行仿真胸部体模(成都剂量体模)实验性曝光,采用同一管电压(65 kVp)和不同SID进行曝光组合,记录每次曝光的毫安秒(mAs)、单位面积剂量:在实验的基础上进行婴幼儿胸部DR,收集2008年5月～2010年5月初次人院的50例婴幼儿行胸部DR(其中男性28例,女性22例;年龄5个月～2岁,平均年龄10个月),住院期间复查1次作为对照,初检组均使用110cmSID,复检组均使用90cmSID进行DR胸部摄影.由3名资深影像学专家对获取的100幅图像质最进行评判,评判结果运用统计学软件SPSS 13.0进行分析,使用接受者操作特征曲线(ROC)分析和t检验.结果 100例初检及复查婴幼儿的图像质量均符合诊断要求(P>0.05);而不同的SID曝光的面积剂量差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 婴幼儿胸部DR的不同SID,其辐射剂量差异具有统计学意义,且图像质量均能满足诊断要求,90cmSID在婴幼儿胸部DR中值得提倡.     

Direct digital lateral cephalometry: the effects of JPEG compression on image quality

OBJECTIVES: This study used an aluminium test object to assess the effect of the Joint Photographics Expert Group (JPEG) compression algorithm, on direct digital cephalometric image quality. METHODS: The aluminium block of 15 steps, with 20 holes in each step was radiographed in a Planmeca Proline 2002 digital cephalometric machine with Dimaxis2 software. Six different JPEG compression ratios were used to capture the cephalometric images. These ratios were 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, TOP QUALITY JPEG (TQJPEG 98%) and TIFF (uncompressed). The images were taken at 68 kV and 12 mA with a 7 s exposure. Six experienced observers viewed the monitor displayed images, which were presented randomly. This was repeated one month later. The number of holes detected by each observer was plotted against each compression ratio. Intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility was calculated using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Differences between the compression ratios were assessed using a Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: When comparing intra-observer reproducibility, it was found that there were only four of 36 comparisons that showed a statistically significant difference (Observer 1: 60% (P=0.004), TQJPEG (P=0.019); Observer 2: TIFF (P=0.005); Observer 3: 90% (P=0.007)). Statistically, there was no significant difference with inter-observer reproducibility. There was no statistically significant difference between the image quality obtained from each compression ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that JPEG compression does not have any effect on the perceptibility of landmarks in the aluminium test object used in this study.     

The teaching of computer programming and digital image processing in radiography

The increased use of digital processing techniques in Medical Radiations imaging modalities, along with the rapid advance in information technology has resulted in a significant change in the delivery of radiographic teaching programs. This paper details a methodology used to concurrently educate radiographers in both computer programming and image processing. The students learn to program in visual basic applications (VBA), and the programming skills are contextualised by requiring the students to write a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) package. Program code generation and image presentation interface is undertaken by the spreadsheet Microsoft Excel. The user-friendly nature of this common interface enables all students to readily begin program creation. The teaching of programming and image processing skills by this method may be readily generalised to other vocational fields where digital image manipulation is a professional requirement.     

Improved image quality in digital mammography with image processing

PURPOSE: The effect of image processing, specifically Bayesian image estimation (BIE), on digital mammographic images is studied. BIE is an iterative, nonlinear statistical estimation technique that has previously been used in chest radiography to reduce image scatter content and improve the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). We adapt this technique to digital mammography and examine its effect. METHODS/MATERIALS: Images of the American College of Radiologists (ACR) breast phantom were acquired on a calibrated digital mammography system at a normal mammographic exposure both with and without a grid. An iterative Bayesian estimation algorithm was formulated and used to process the images acquired without a grid. Quantitative scatter fractions were measured and compared for the image acquired with the grid, the image acquired without the grid, and the image acquired without the grid and processed by the Bayesian algorithm. CNR values were also computed for the four visible masses in the ACR phantom before and after processing and compared to a grid. RESULTS: Initial images acquired without an antiscatter grid had scatter fractions of 0.46. Processing this image with BIE reduced the scatter content to under 0.04. In comparison, the image acquired with a grid had scatter of 0.19. BIE processing accounted for CNR improvements from 29% to 219% for the masses seen in the ACR phantom as compared to the unprocessed image. Visibility of the four masses in the phantom was improved. CONCLUSIONS: Bayesian image estimation can be used with digital mammography to reduce scatter fractions. This technique is very useful as it can reduce scatter content effectively without introducing any adverse effects, such as grid line aliasing. Bayesian processing can also increase image CNR, which may potentially increase the visualization of subtle masses. Preliminary work shows an improvement in CNR to values greater than that provided by a standard grid.     

Screen optics effects on detective quantum efficiency in digital radiography: zero-frequency effects

Indirect flat panel imagers have been developed for digital radiography, fluoroscopy and mammography, and are now in clinical use. Screens made from columnar structured cesium iodide (CsI) scintillators doped with thallium have been used extensively in these detectors. The purpose of this article is to investigate the effect of screen optics, e.g., light escape efficiency versus depth, on gain fluctuation noise, expressed as the Swank factor. Our goal is to obtain results useful in optimizing screens for digital radiography systems. Experimental measurements from structured CsI samples were used to derive their screen optics properties, and the same methods can also be applied to powder screens. CsI screens, all of the same thickness but with different optical designs and manufacturing techniques, were obtained from Hamamatsu Photonics Corporation. The pulse height spectra (PHS) of the screens were measured at different x-ray energies. A theoretical model was developed for the light escape efficiency and a method for deriving light escape efficiency versus depth from experimental PHS measurements was implemented and applied to the CsI screens. The results showed that the light escape efficiency varies essentially linearly as a function of depth in the CsI samples, and that the magnitude of variation is relatively small, leading to a high Swank factor.     

Investigation of basic imaging properties in digital radiography. 3. Effect of pixel size on SNR and threshold contrast

The effect of pixel size on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and threshold detection of low-contrast radiologic patterns was investigated theoretically for digital radiographic systems. The SNR based on the perceived statistical decision theory model, together with the internal noise of the human eye-brain system, was calculated by using two-dimensional displayed digital signal spectra and noise Wiener spectra. Threshold contrasts were predicted from the calculated SNR for various combinations of object size and shape, pixel size, resolution, and noise. Predicted threshold contrasts agreed well with those determined experimentally in an observer performance study. The threshold contrast of small objects increased substantially as the pixel size increased beyond 0.2 mm. For pixel sizes of 0.1 and 0.2 mm, however, the threshold contrasts were similar. Since a digital system is not shift invariant, a range of threshold contrast results for a small object and a large pixel, depending on the alignment of the object position relative to the sampling coordinates.     

数字化摄影及图像后处理技术在骨密度测定中的应用

背景：随着直接数字化X射线摄影系统的出现,应用计算机相关知识增加了一些以前普通X射线摄影机不具备的一些后处理程序,为临床骨密度的测定提供了新方法。 目的：通过直接数字化X射线摄影系统机拍摄标准骨盆平片,利用其强大后处理功能,通过测量股骨颈、ward三角及股骨大转子的象素密度,找出简单易行测定骨密度的新方法。 方法：随机选择105份标准骨盆直接数字化X射线平片,按年龄以60岁为标准,分为实验组(≤ 60岁)和对照组(> 60岁)。根据标准骨盆平片制定测量股骨颈密度的三点、ward三角一点及股骨大结节三点。对两组女性患者的股骨颈、股骨大转子及股骨颈ward三角象素密度均数分别进行t检验,观察两个年龄段股骨颈、股骨大转子及股骨颈ward三角密度值分布情况。 结果与结论：对照组股骨颈象素密度为945.59±174.70,大转子象素密度为712.67±196.89,ward三角象素密度为873.70±195.17;实验组股骨颈象素密度为779.03±125.79,大转子象素密度为526.22±127.93,ward三角象素密度为668.30±131.19。两组间比较差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。提示,通过测量直接数字化X射线摄影系统骨盆平片上骨质的象素密度可以作为骨密度测定方法之一,且操作简便,易于临床掌握和运用,不需患者行二次医疗检查。     

Practical guidelines for radiographers to improve computed radiography image quality

Computed Radiography (CR) has become a major digital imaging modality in a modern radiological department. CR system changes workflow from the conventional way of using film/screen by employing photostimulable phosphor plate technology. This results in the changing perspectives of technical, artefacts and quality control issues in radiology departments. Guidelines for better image quality in digital medical enterprise include professional guidelines for users and the quality control programme specifically designed to serve the best quality of clinical images. Radiographers who understand technological shift of the CR from conventional method can employ optimization of CR images. Proper anatomic collimation and exposure techniques for each radiographic projection are crucial steps in producing quality digital images. Matching image processing with specific anatomy is also important factor that radiographers should realise. Successful shift from conventional to fully digitised radiology department requires skilful radiographers who utilise the technology and a successful quality control program from teamwork in the department.     

An experimental comparison of detector performance for direct and indirect digital radiography systems

Current flat-panel detectors either directly convert x-ray energy to electronic charge or use indirect conversion with an intermediate optical process. The purpose of this work was to compare direct and indirect detectors in terms of their modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Measurements were made on three flat-panel detectors, Hologic Direct-Ray DR-1000 (DRC), GE Revolution XQ/i (XQ/i), and Philips Digital Diagnost (DiDi) using the IEC-defined RQA5 (approximately 74 kVp, 21 mm Al) and RQA9 (approximately 120 kVp, 40 mm Al) radiographic techniques. The presampled MTFs of the systems were measured using an edge method [Samei et al., Med. Phys. 25, 102 (1998)]. The NPS of the systems were determined for a range of exposure levels by two-dimensional (2D) Fourier analysis of uniformly exposed radiographs [Flynn and Samei, Med. Phys. 26, 1612 (1999)]. The DQEs were assessed from the measured MTF, NPS, exposure, and estimated ideal signal-to-noise ratios. For the direct system, the MTF was found to be significantly higher than that for the indirect systems and very close to an ideal function associated with the detector pixel size. The NPS for the direct system was found to be constant in relation to frequency. For the XQ/i and DRC systems, the DQE results reflected expected differences based on the absorption efficiency of the different detector materials. Using RQA5, the measured DQE values in the diagonal (and axial) direction(s) at spatial frequencies of 0.15 mm(-1) and 2.5 mm(-1) were 64% (64%) and 20% (15%) for the XQ/i system, and 38% (38%) and 20% (20%) for the DRC, respectively. The DQE results of the DiDi system were difficult to interpret due to additional preprocessing steps in that system.     

Impact of digital radiography on clinical workflow

It is commonly accepted that digital radiography (DR) improves workflow and patient throughput compared with traditional film radiography or computed radiography (CR). DR eliminates the film development step and the time to acquire the image from a CR reader. In addition, the wide dynamic range of DR is such that the technologist can perform the quality-control (QC) step directly at the modality in a few seconds, rather than having to transport the newly acquired image to a centralized QC station for review. Furthermore, additional workflow efficiencies can be achieved with DR by employing tight radiology information system (RIS) integration. In the DR imaging environment, this provides for patient demographic information to be automatically downloaded from the RIS to populate the DR Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) image header. To learn more about this workflow efficiency improvement, we performed a comparative study of workflow steps under three different conditions: traditional film/screen x-ray, DR without RIS integration (ie, manual entry of patient demographics), and DR with RIS integration. This study was performed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Cleveland, OH) using a newly acquired amorphous silicon flat-panel DR system from Canon Medical Systems (Irvine, CA). Our data show that DR without RIS results in substantial workflow savings over traditional film/screen practice. There is an additional 30% reduction in total examination time using DR with RIS integration.     

Investigation of basic imaging properties in digital radiography. 11. Multiple slit-beam imaging technique with image intensifier-TV digital system

We are developing a digital x-ray imaging system using a multiple slit assembly (MSA) and an image intensifier (II)-TV digital system. The advantage of this approach is that the scatter from an object and the veiling glare in the II-TV system can be reduced significantly while the x-ray utilization is maintained much better than that with a single slit-beam technique. The quality of reconstructed images is related to many parameters such as the slit width, the lead spacer, the number of image frames, and the reconstruction algorithm. In this study, reduction of scatter and veiling glare was measured quantitatively, and image artifacts were analyzed. It was found that the fraction of scatter and veiling glare can be reduced to approximately 0.01-0.1 by use of the MSA imaging technique, and that the magnitude of the fractions is strongly dependent upon the slit width and the lead spacer of the MSA used. The artifacts are caused by inaccuracies in the slit width, lead spacer, and scan motion, and by undersampling of image data. The overlap scanning technique was effective in reducing the magnitude of these artifacts in the reconstructed image.     

Constrained deconvolution of SPECT liver tomograms by direct digital image restoration

Several techniques for performing digital image restoration are reviewed and the problems associated with evaluating image processing are discussed. An application of constrained deconvulution to images of the liver produced by single-photon emission computed tomography is presented. Specific evaluation criteria are suggested and based on these, the choice of conditions best suited for processing liver images is proposed. Typically cold tumor contrast can be improved by a factor of greater than 2 whilst image mottle increases negligibly.     

Patient dose management in digital radiography

Purpose:

To present the experience in patient dose management and the development of an online audit tool for digital radiography.

Materials and methods:

Several tools have been developed to extract the information contained in the DICOM header of digital images, collect radiographic parameters, calculate patient entrance doses and other related parameters, and audit image quality.

Results:

The tool has been used for mammography, and includes images from over 25,000 patients, over 75,000 chest images, 100,000 computed radiography procedures and more than 1,000 interventional radiology procedures. Examples of calculation of skin dose distribution in interventional cardiology based upon information of DICOM header and the results of dosimetric parameters for cardiology procedures in 2006 are presented.

Conclusion:

Digital radiology has great advantages for imaging and patient dose management. Dose reports, QCONLINE systems and the MPPS DICOM service are good tools to optimise procedures and to manage patient dosimetry data. The implementation of the ongoing IEC-DICOM standard for patient dose structured reports will improve dose management in digital radiology.     

Effect of area x-ray beam equalization on image quality and dose in digital mammography

In mammography, thick or dense breast regions persistently suffer from reduced contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) because of degraded contrast from large scatter intensities and relatively high noise. Area x-ray beam equalization can improve image quality by increasing the x-ray exposure to under-penetrated regions without increasing the exposure to other breast regions. Optimal equalization parameters with respect to image quality and patient dose were determined through computer simulations and validated with experimental observations on a step phantom and an anthropomorphic breast phantom. Three parameters important in equalization digital mammography were considered: attenuator material (Z = 13-92), beam energy (22-34 kVp) and equalization level. A Mo/Mo digital mammography system was used for image acquisition. A prototype 16 x 16 piston driven equalization system was used for preparing patient-specific equalization masks. Simulation studies showed that a molybdenum attenuator and an equalization level of 20 were optimal for improving contrast, CNR and figure of merit (FOM = CNR2/dose). Experimental measurements using these parameters showed significant improvements in contrast, CNR and FOM. Moreover, equalized images of a breast phantom showed improved image quality. These results indicate that area beam equalization can improve image quality in digital mammography.