Signal and noise transfer properties of x-ray detectors are described by the detective quantum efficiency DQE. The DQE
is a precise analysis tool, however, it is not meant to identify the various noise sources.
The noise decomposition method is based on measured noise power spectra, following previous work by Mackenzie.
Noise is distinguished by its variations with dose and spatial frequency: Quantum noise, fixed pattern noise, Lubberts
noise, noise aliasing, and others.
By determining all major noise sources, DQE results can be extrapolated within a precision of approximately 2% to other
clinical relevant dose values that have not been measured. This precision shows an improvement to the method proposed
by Mackenzie. The major noise sources are further sub-divided. For the calculation of noise sub-components a precision
of 4% is achieved. The decomposition allows a detailed analysis of the dominant noise component in a certain dose or
spatial frequency range, in particular the determination of spectral noise equivalent dose, the impact on DQE by different
gain and offset correction schemes, and the influence of different scintillators on Lubberts noise.
A CR system based on line-scanning and needle image plate technologies (CsBr), was modified by means of an improved line light source for stimulation and a high aperture line optics for light collection. For comparison, two types of needle image plates were used, i.e. standard and high resolution plates. The image quality performance was investigated in terms of modulation transfer function, detective quantum efficiency and visual impression of both anthropomorphic and technical phantom images, with respect to application for X-ray examinations of extremities.
MTF and DQE at beam quality RQA 3 were clearly improved by the modified scanning components. Further improvement especially with respect to MTF at spatial frequencies beyond 2 LP/mm was obtained via the high resolution image plate, but at reduced low frequency DQE values. The visual inspection of images of a high contrast resolution pattern and an anthropomorphic hand phantom revealed a clear preference for the modified system. The use of the high resolution image plate alone resulted in images with higher sharpness but increased noise. The best performance - at constant X-ray exposure dose - was delivered by the combination of improved optics components with the adapted needle image plate.
The image quality of needle-image-plate (NIP) Computed Radiography (CR) scanners based on ScanHead technology was optimized. In order to get the best image quality for different applications, the influence of the phosphor layer thickness on the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) for different beam qualities was investigated. We compared a cassette-based, reflective CR-NIP-scanner to a new, transmissive flat-panel CR scanner with fixed, mounted NIP. The image quality was analyzed by DQE- and modulation transfer function (MTF) measurements supported by an observer study. The NIP systems reached DQE values up to three times higher than that of high-quality, state of the art CR scanners independent of the scanning principle. This allows a dose reduction by a factor of two to three without loss of image quality for both scanning systems. For high tube voltages, the variation of the phosphor layer thickness results in a DQE maximum at relatively large thicknesses. For lower tube voltages the DQE is less dependent on the layer thickness, reaching excellent values already at considerably lower thicknesses. Consequently, CR scanners can be adapted to different applications by using NIPs with different thicknesses. This could be easily realized for the cassette based system, but not for the flat-panel system with fixed IP. The latter demands a compromise with respect to the phosphor thickness, to yield superior image quality for all applications.
Purpose: To investigate the relative importance of spatial resolution and noise on the image quality of clinical radiographs. Methods: The spatial resolution and noise of fifteen digitized lumbar spine radiographs were altered with image processing. Three different MTF curves and three different Wiener spectra were combined into seven different combinations of spatial resolution and noise. These seven combinations were applied to the original data set, and the resulting images were printed on film. Seven expert radiologists evaluated the clinical image quality of the resulting images with visual grading analysis (VGA) of structures based on the European Image Criteria. Results: The results show that added noise is more deteriorating than reduced spatial resolution for the clinical image quality. For a given MTF and noise level, the worst was the one with increased noise followed by the one with both reduced MTF and added noise (mimicking a faster screen-film combination). Reduced MTF only gave the highest rating. Conclusions: It is more important to find methods for removing noise than to try to improve the MTF of a radiographic system. A noisy image can sometimes be improved by reducing the spatial resolution.
The 'European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Diagnostic Radiographic Images' do not address the choice of film characteristic (H/D) curve, which is an important parameter for the description of a radiographic screen-film system. Since it is not possible to investigate this influence by taking repeated exposures of the same patients on films with systematically varied H/D curves, patient images of lumbar spine were digitised in the current study. The image contrast was altered by digital image processing techniques, simulating images with H/D curves varying from flat over standard latitude to a film type steeper than a mammography film. The manipulated images were printed on film for evaluation. Seven European radiologists evaluated the clinical image quality of in total 224 images by analysing the fulfilment of the European Image Criteria and by visual grading analysis of the images. The results show that the local quality can be significantly improved by the application of films with a steeper film H/D curve compared to the standard latitude film. For images with an average optical density of about 1.25, the application of the steeper film results in a reduction of patient absorbed dose by about 10-15% without a loss of diagnostically relevant image information. The results also show that the patient absorbed dose reduction obtained by altering the tube voltage from 70 kV to 90 kV coincides with a loss of image information that cannot be compensated for by simply changing the shape of the H/D curve.
A novel type of micro-pore optics for the X-ray regime has been developed. These optics have a radial design instead of the square packing in the more traditional Lobster-eye optics. With such a design true imaging, without a crucifix in the focus, can be achieved. We demonstrate that the walls inside the square pores are good enough to produce sub- arcminute focussing up to photon energies above 10 keV. The current performance of the optics is limited by large-scale distortions of the plates, probably caused by the method to fuse the fibers together.
Optimization of radiographic procedures require solid tools for evaluation of the image quality in order to ensure that it is sufficient to answer the clinical question at the lowest possible absorbed dose to the patient. Lumbar spine radiography is an examination giving a relatively high dose and good methods for evaluation of image quality as well as dose are needed. We have developed and used a method for the addition of artificial pathological structures into clinical images. The new images were evaluated in a study of detectability (free-response forced error experiment). The results from the study showed that the methodology can be used to detect differences in the screen-film systems used to produce the images, indicating that the method can be used in a study of image quality. The results of the study of detectability were compared with the outcome of a visual grading analysis based on the structures mentioned in the European Quality Criteria. The comparison indicated that a linear correlation exists between the two methods. This means that the simple VGA can be used in the evaluation of clinical image quality.
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