Quantitative analysis of the effect of energy separation in k-edge digital subtraction imaging

Sarnelli, Anna; Taibi, Angelo; Baldelli, Paola; Gambaccini, M.; Bravin, A.

doi:10.1088/0031-9155/52/11/006

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Higher values of fluence guarantee a better visibility of the smaller details with less contrast medium, as estimated in our previous work [54]. Our results are also compatible with past studies aimed at investigating the effects of energy separation [61] and energy spread [53] in KES imaging. In these works, monochromatic and Gaussian beams were used, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Dual-Energy X-ray Medical Imaging with Inverse Compton Sources: A Simulation Study

et al. 2020

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It has been long recognized that dual-energy imaging could help to enhance the detectability of lesions in diagnostic radiology, by removing the contrast of surrounding tissues. Furthermore, X-ray attenuation is material specific and information about the object constituents can be extracted for tissue characterisation, i.e., to assess whether lesions represent a malignant or benign process. However, a true separation between the low and high energy components is not possible with conventional sources because of their broad X-ray spectrum, and the artifacts produced in the subtracted image can be only partially removed. Finally, dose issues have also prevented so far the application of dual-energy techniques within the clinical context. Very recently, a new intense and monochromatic X-ray source was proposed to fill the gap between a synchrotron radiation facility and the standard X-ray tube. Indeed, inverse Compton scattering (ICS) sources, which are based on the interaction of a powerful laser beam and a bright beam of relativistic electrons, are among the most promising innovative sources of monochromatic X and gamma radiation. In this contribution, we review the main features that allow an ICS source to meet the requirements of a medical imaging application. Specific examples of K-edge subtraction are then provided, to show the potential of ICS in clinical applications that require intravenous injection of a contrast medium.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Dual-Energy X-ray Medical Imaging with Inverse Compton Sources: A Simulation Study

et al. 2020

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“…A study by Sarnelli et al [53] compared the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in images obtained at a synchrotron to the SNR of images obtained at a monochromatized conventional X-ray source. A positive impact on the image SNR was found for a smaller energy difference, which is achievable with a more narrow monochromatic beam.…”

Section: Change In Cnr Due To Energy Spread In Ics Spectrummentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectroscopic imaging at compact inverse Compton X-ray sources

et al. 2020

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While K-edge subtraction (KES) imaging is a commonly applied technique at synchrotron sources, the application of this imaging method in clinical imaging is limited although results have shown its superiority to conventional clinical subtraction imaging. Over the past decades, compact synchrotron X-ray sources, based on inverse Compton scattering, have been developed to fill the gap between conventional X-ray tubes and synchrotron facilities. These so called inverse Compton sources (ICSs) provide a tunable, quasi-monochromatic X-ray beam in a laboratory setting with reduced spatial and financial requirements. This allows for the transfer of imaging techniques that have been limited to synchrotrons until now, like KES imaging, into a laboratory environment. This review article presents the first studies that have successfully performed KES at ICSs. These have shown that KES provides improved image quality in comparison to conventional X-ray imaging. The results indicate that medical imaging could benefit from monochromatic imaging and KES techniques. Currently, the clinical application of KES is limited by the low K-edge energy of available iodine contrast agents. However, several ICSs are under development or already in commissioning which will provide monochromatic X-ray beams with higher X-ray energies and will enable KES using high-Z elements as contrast media. With these developments, KES at an ICS has the ability to become an important tool in pre-clinical research and potentially advancing existing clinical imaging techniques.

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“…A more generic algorithm is the dual energy algorithm initially proposed by Lehmann et al [6] and subsequently used in several K-edge imaging applications [7], [8]. It consists of decomposing an image into two components; for the present case, the components chosen were iodine, representing the contrast agent, and water, representing the background materials.…”

Section: Subtraction Algorithmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of K-edge subtraction imaging using a pixellated spectroscopic detector

Pani

Saifuddin

Ferreira

et al. 2012

2012 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Record (NSS/MIC)

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Abstract-Conventional K-edge subtraction imaging is based around the acquisition of two separate images at energies respectively below and above the K-edge of a contrast agent. This implies increased patient dose with respect to a conventional procedure and potentially incorrect image registration due to patient motion.We present results obtained with a pixellated spectroscopic CdTe detector. A spectroscopic detector allows simultaneous acquisition of the two images by integrating appropriate bands from the transmitted X-ray spectrum, thus removing the above limitations; the photon counting capability of the detector limits the noise to statistical noise, thus minimizing the dose for a given signal-to-noise ratio.Furthermore, an appropriate choice of the integration bands allows optimization of image quality, resulting from a trade-off between background removal (maximum with a narrow band) and low statistical noise (achieved with a broad band).Results obtained with a custom test-object, simulating breast structures, and with an iodine-based contrast agent, are presented for two different image subtraction algorithms: logarithmic subtraction and dual-energy linear combination. Whilst being conceptually simpler, logarithmic subtraction is strongly dependent upon the position and width of the band selected, while linear combination allows better background removal even with a broad energy band, and therefore better image quality..

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Quantitative analysis of the effect of energy separation in k-edge digital subtraction imaging

Cited by 14 publications

References 22 publications

Dual-Energy X-ray Medical Imaging with Inverse Compton Sources: A Simulation Study

Dual-Energy X-ray Medical Imaging with Inverse Compton Sources: A Simulation Study

Spectroscopic imaging at compact inverse Compton X-ray sources

Optimization of K-edge subtraction imaging using a pixellated spectroscopic detector

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