TSG
CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Image Quality
34 sheets
basic_iq.ppt *C
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TSG
CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Image Quality
Image Quality Image Quality
• Image quality is subjective.
• We can measure the quality of a system and
express it in a technical way.
Image Quality Image Quality
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Image Quality Description
High contrast resolution
• The ability to see the smallest detail with more than
100H contrast differences
• “x” mm = 10 / (2 x “y” lp/cm)
(convert from ‘mm’ to ‘lp/cm’ or v.v.)
• Influences on High contrast:
– L/R alignment
– vibration
– reconstruction filter
Visual
– focus size
High Contrast
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TSG
CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Image Quality Description
Low contrast resolution
• The ability to see the smallest contrast differences
• “mm” x “%” = “low contrast factor” 0.3%
(on a contrast scale of 1000 H)
0.1%
0.5%
• Influences on Low contrast:
– F/B alignment
– tube output (mA, kV, slice thickness)
1.0%
– vibration
– reconstruction filter
Visual
– calibration
Low Contrast
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Image Quality Description
• Uniformity (Cupping / Capping)
• Linearity
• Slice thickness
• Partial Volume Effect
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Uniformity (Cupping / Capping)
• Measure all H-values on a profile in a water
phantom.
Good: all values identical (+/- 2H)
• CUPPING:
Values on outside higher than in the middle.
• CAPPING:
Values on outside lower than in the middle.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Linearity
• Measure different materials with a known
H-value.
• Plot the known and measured H-value
Teflon = 970 H
Delrin = 363 H
Water = 0H
LDPE = -103 H
Air = -1000 H
OK NOT OK
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Slice-thickness
metal x-ray
wire beam
front view side view side view reconstruction reconstruction
(enlarged) (enlarged)
• Make a scan through a phantom with a tilted metal wire.
• Measuring the length of the reconstructed wire.
• Angle α is known, the slice-thickness can be calculated.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Partial Volume Effect (1/2)
pixel voxel
image = 2D but .. the slice-thickness
is the 3rd dimension
• The H-value we see is the average of the
contents of the ‘voxel’
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Partial Volume Effect (2/2)
If the voxel is If the voxel is Example:
homogenous : NOT homogenous : A small object
NO PROBLEM The displayed H-value cannot been
is an average of more seen.
tissues.
Conclusion:
If you want to see small objects: use thin slices.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Every step influences the ‘image quality’ and can cause distortions
From the HV Generator to the image printer.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Artifact
• Artifact is the name given to ‘distortions’ that
occur in reconstructed images.
• Artifacts may have different causes and
appear in different ways.
• They originate from the scanning system
itself , the patient or from outside the
scanning system.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Raw Data Plot
• A helpful tool for fault-finding is the ‘sinogram’
this is a plot of the detector-channel-readings
for all views.
channels 896
• A sinogram can be made 0
with the DCA program.
RAW DATA PLOT
views
900
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Movement artifacts
• This includes movement by the patient
(head, body movement)
• Also movement of organs, like heart,
digestive tract.
A blurred image is the result of these
movement artifacts.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Alignment artifacts (1/2)
• Artifacts caused by the fact that the Center of
Rotation is not the same as the Center of the
Reconstruction Matrix.
• This is the case when the Left/Right Alignment of
the tube is not OK.
This can give fine line streaking artifacts,
especially from dense objects.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Alignment artifacts (2/2)
• Also artifacts caused by the fact that the X-ray
beam is not aligned on the middle of the detector.
• This is the case when the Front/Back alignment
of the tube is not OK.
This can give ring and band artifacts.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Ring artifact (1/2)
Caused by :
- Gain and/or Offset drift of the detector
(electronics)
- Change in output of 1 (or more) detector cells.
channels 896
0
RAW DATA PLOT
views
900
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Ring artifact (2/2)
Sometimes ‘dose-dependent’, difficult to find.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Multiple Ring artifact (1/2)
In many systems the output of the Integrator boards, Q-mux’s etc.
are transferred by a bus to the FPA/ADC.
When 1 of these bus lines is pulled down or up , multiple rings
occur.
channels 896
0
RAW DATA PLOT
views
900
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Multiple Ring artifact (2/2)
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Streak artifact
Caused by a sudden change in the data of 1 channel.
- by defective detector
- bad contact
-?
channels 896
0
RAW DATA PLOT
views
t
do
k
ac
bl
900
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Multiple Streak artifact (1/2)
Caused by a many sudden changes in the data of 1 channel.
- by defective detector
- bad contact
-?
channels 896
0
RAW DATA PLOT
views
900
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Multiple Streak artifact (2/2)
If the streaks can be connected by a circle, the streaks
are caused by 1 channel.
(Many changes during 1 scan)
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Fan Streak artifact (1/2)
This is a multiple streak artifact where all streaks
originate from one point.
This appears when a complete view is damaged (lost).
channels 896
0
RAW DATA PLOT
views
900
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Fan Streak artifact (2/2)
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Moiré pattern artifact
This type of artifact can be caused by many fan-streak
artifacts -or- interference from outside -or- ??
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Multiple vibration artifact
This artifact was caused by a spacer. Making contact
between DAS-assy and gantry-frame.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Reconstruction artifact 1
• All raw data is after
reconstruction NOT OK
• RTRU defect
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Reconstruction artifact 2
• Bad contact.
• RTRU out + in
= OK.
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Center Dot artifact
• Check with same parameters
on a SS-phantom
• Lower the “a-parameter” and
perform air calibration
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Mechanical artifact
• vibration artifacts
• solved by adjusting the
rotation belt tension
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Black streak (1/2)
• What is the problem ?
• black streak artifact
(from where?)
• from outside the head !
• how to follow-up ?
• check scano !
(see next sheet)
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Black streak (2/2)
• check scano !
• slice is through the band !
• inform the user of this problem !!
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CT Basic training : I.Q. CT
Finally
• Some artifacts are ‘normal’.
- Metal objects
- Bone/soft-tissue , bone/air transitions
can give problems during reconstruction and
cause streak artifacts.
• This list is far from complete.
Please send images (+ description) on floppy
or via email to us if you encounter interesting
artifacts in the field.
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