Development of a Noise Reduction Filter Algorithm for Pediatric Body Images in Multidetector CT |
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Authors: | Eiji Nishimaru Katsuhiro Ichikawa Izumi Okita Yukihiro Tomoshige Takehiro Kurokawa Yuko Nakamura Masayuki Suzuki |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Radiology, Hiroshima City Hospital, 7-33 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8518, Japan;(2) Department of Radiology, Kure City Medical Association Hospital, 15-24 Asahi-cho, Kure 737-0056, Japan;(3) Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa 920-0942, Japan |
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Abstract: | Recently, several types of post-processing image filter which was designed to reduce noise allowing a corresponding dose reduction
in CT images have been proposed and these were reported to be useful for noise reduction of CT images of adult patients. However,
these have not been reported on adaptation for pediatric patients. Because they are not very effective with small (<20 cm)
display fields of view, they could not be used for pediatric (e.g., premature babies and infants) body CT images. In order
to solve this restriction, we have developed a new noise reduction filter algorithm which can be applicable for pediatric
body CT images. This algorithm is based on a three-dimensional post processing, in which output pixel values are calculated
by multi-directional, one-dimensional median filters on original volumetric datasets. The processed directions were selected
except in in-plane (axial plane) direction, and consequently the in-plane spatial resolution was not affected by the filter.
Also, in other directions, the spatial resolutions including slice thickness were almost maintained due to a characteristic
of non-linear filtering of the median filter. From the results of phantom studies, the proposed algorithm could reduce standard
deviation values as a noise index by up to 30% without affecting the spatial resolution of all directions, and therefore,
contrast-to-noise ratio was improved by up to 30%. This newly developed filter algorithm will be useful for the diagnosis
and radiation dose reduction of pediatric body CT images. |
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