A simple approach to measure computed tomography (CT) modulation transfer function (MTF) and noise-power spectrum (NPS) using the American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation phantom

被引:165
作者
Friedman, Saul N. [1 ]
Fung, George S. K. [2 ]
Siewerdsen, Jeffrey H. [3 ,4 ,5 ]
Tsui, Benjamin M. W. [2 ]
机构
[1] Tel Aviv Univ, Sackler Sch Med, Fac Med, IL-69978 Ramat Aviv, Israel
[2] Johns Hopkins Univ, Dept Radiol, Baltimore, MD 21287 USA
[3] Johns Hopkins Univ, Dept Biomed Engn, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
[4] Johns Hopkins Univ, Russell H Morgan Dept Radiol, Baltimore, MD 21287 USA
[5] Johns Hopkins Univ, Dept Comp Sci, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
关键词
computed tomography; CT; modulation transfer function; MTF; resolution; noise-power spectrum; NPS; noise; American College of Radiology phantom; ACR phantom; CONE-BEAM CT; SYSTEMS;
D O I
10.1118/1.4800795
中图分类号
R8 [特种医学]; R445 [影像诊断学];
学科分类号
100231 [临床病理学]; 100902 [航空航天医学];
摘要
Purpose: To develop an easily-implemented technique with free publicly-available analysis software to measure the modulation transfer function (MTF) and noise-power spectrum (NPS) of a clinical computed tomography (CT) system from images acquired using a widely-available and standardized American College of Radiology (ACR) CT accreditation phantom. Methods: Images of the ACR phantom were acquired on a Siemens SOMATOM Definition Flash system using a standard adult head protocol: 120 kVp, 300 mAs, and reconstructed voxel size of 0.49 mm x 0.49 mm x 4.67 mm. The radial (axial) MTF was measured using an edge method where the boundary of the third module of the ACR phantom, originally designed to measure uniformity and noise, was used as a circular edge. The 3D NPS was measured using images from this same module and using a previously-described methodology that quantifies noise magnitude and 3D noise correlation. Results: The axial MTF was radially symmetrical and had a value of 0.1 at 0.62 mm(-1). The 3D NPS shape was consistent with the filter-ramp function of filtered-backprojection reconstruction algorithms and previously reported values. The radial NPS peak value was similar to 115 HU(2)mm(3) at similar to 0.25 mm(-1) and dropped to 0 HU(2)mm(3) by 0.8 mm(-1). Conclusions: The authors have developed an easily-implementable technique to measure the axial MTF and 3D NPS of clinical CT systems using an ACR phantom. The widespread availability of the phantom along with the free software the authors have provided will enable many different institutions to immediately measure MTF and NPS values for comparison of protocols and systems. (c) 2013 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
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