Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Does software optimization influence the radiologists' perception in low dose paediatric pelvic examinations?

Precht, H. ; Waaler, D. ; Outzen, C. B. ; Brock Thorsen, J. B. ; Steen, T. ; Hellfritzsch, M. B. ; Aagesen, H. ; Holst, A. K. ; Le, P. and Lindequist, S. , et al. (2019) In Radiography 25(2). p.143-147
Abstract

Purpose: To investigate whether software optimisation can improve an observers’ perception of image quality in low dose paediatric pelvic examinations. Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients (3–7 years old) were referred for a pelvic digital radiography (DR) examination. They were prospectively enrolled in the study over a 3-month period. Images were taken at 80 kV and 2–4 mAs depending on pelvic thickness (9–15 cm). A small focal spot, 130 cm SID: 10 cm air gap and 1 mm Al and 0.2 mm Cu additional filtration were also utilised. Images were acquired on a Canon DR detector and optimised using five different combinations of the multi-frequency processing software (Canon DR system version NE, Version 7.1 with SPECTRA) to comply with the... (More)

Purpose: To investigate whether software optimisation can improve an observers’ perception of image quality in low dose paediatric pelvic examinations. Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients (3–7 years old) were referred for a pelvic digital radiography (DR) examination. They were prospectively enrolled in the study over a 3-month period. Images were taken at 80 kV and 2–4 mAs depending on pelvic thickness (9–15 cm). A small focal spot, 130 cm SID: 10 cm air gap and 1 mm Al and 0.2 mm Cu additional filtration were also utilised. Images were acquired on a Canon DR detector and optimised using five different combinations of the multi-frequency processing software (Canon DR system version NE, Version 7.1 with SPECTRA) to comply with the ALARA principle. Image quality was blindly evaluated using the subjective Visual Grading Analysis (VGA) by five experienced musculoskeletal radiologists, including the evaluation of six anatomical image quality criteria (scored from 1 to 5). Results: Consistently, the VGA results indicated that by using software optimised parameters, image quality was suitable for diagnosis in 48–71% of all images. Based on a VGC analysis all software optimised images did have significant better image quality then the one with just the clinical settings. Noise reduction was the software setting which influenced the image quality the most, area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8172 95%CI 0.7953–0.8375. Conclusion: Software optimisation improve the radiologists' perception of image quality and should thus be thoroughly considered within clinical practise. Noise reduction is the software parameter which has the greatest influence.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and , et al. (More)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and (Less)
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Image quality, Paediatric femur, Software optimisation, Visual Grading Analysis
in
Radiography
volume
25
issue
2
pages
143 - 147
publisher
W.B. Saunders
external identifiers
  • scopus:85059228709
  • pmid:30955687
ISSN
1078-8174
DOI
10.1016/j.radi.2018.12.013
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
32d456e9-f24a-41e7-95be-bd6335144107
date added to LUP
2019-01-11 10:01:57
date last changed
2024-03-18 22:50:00
@article{32d456e9-f24a-41e7-95be-bd6335144107,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: To investigate whether software optimisation can improve an observers’ perception of image quality in low dose paediatric pelvic examinations. Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients (3–7 years old) were referred for a pelvic digital radiography (DR) examination. They were prospectively enrolled in the study over a 3-month period. Images were taken at 80 kV and 2–4 mAs depending on pelvic thickness (9–15 cm). A small focal spot, 130 cm SID: 10 cm air gap and 1 mm Al and 0.2 mm Cu additional filtration were also utilised. Images were acquired on a Canon DR detector and optimised using five different combinations of the multi-frequency processing software (Canon DR system version NE, Version 7.1 with SPECTRA) to comply with the ALARA principle. Image quality was blindly evaluated using the subjective Visual Grading Analysis (VGA) by five experienced musculoskeletal radiologists, including the evaluation of six anatomical image quality criteria (scored from 1 to 5). Results: Consistently, the VGA results indicated that by using software optimised parameters, image quality was suitable for diagnosis in 48–71% of all images. Based on a VGC analysis all software optimised images did have significant better image quality then the one with just the clinical settings. Noise reduction was the software setting which influenced the image quality the most, area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8172 95%CI 0.7953–0.8375. Conclusion: Software optimisation improve the radiologists' perception of image quality and should thus be thoroughly considered within clinical practise. Noise reduction is the software parameter which has the greatest influence.</p>}},
  author       = {{Precht, H. and Waaler, D. and Outzen, C. B. and Brock Thorsen, J. B. and Steen, T. and Hellfritzsch, M. B. and Aagesen, H. and Holst, A. K. and Le, P. and Lindequist, S. and Rasmussen, L. and Tingberg, A.}},
  issn         = {{1078-8174}},
  keywords     = {{Image quality; Paediatric femur; Software optimisation; Visual Grading Analysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{143--147}},
  publisher    = {{W.B. Saunders}},
  series       = {{Radiography}},
  title        = {{Does software optimization influence the radiologists' perception in low dose paediatric pelvic examinations?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2018.12.013}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.radi.2018.12.013}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}