Science and Research

Detection of artificial pulmonary lung nodules in ultralow-dose CT using an ex vivo lung phantom

OBJECTIVES: To assess the image quality of 3 different ultralow-dose CT protocols on pulmonary nodule depiction in a ventilated ex vivo-system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four porcine lungs were inflated inside a dedicated chest phantom and prepared with n = 195 artificial nodules (0.5-1 mL). The artificial chest wall was filled with water to simulate the absorption of a human chest. Images were acquired with a 2x192-row detector CT using low-dose (reference protocol with a tube voltage of 120 kV) and 3 different ULD protocols (respective effective doses: 1mSv and 0.1mSv). A different tube voltage was used for each ULD protocol: 70kV, 100kV with tin filter (100kV_Sn) and 150kV with tin filter (150kV_Sn). Nodule delineation was assessed by two observers (scores 1-5, 1 = unsure, 5 = high confidence). RESULTS: The diameter of the 195 detected artificial nodules ranged from 0.9-21.5 mm (mean 7.84 mm +/- 5.31). The best ULD scores were achieved using 100kV_Sn and 70 kV ULD protocols (4.14 and 4.06 respectively). Both protocols were not significantly different (p = 0.244). The mean score of 3.78 in ULD 150kV_Sn was significantly lower compared to the 100kV_Sn ULD protocol (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The results of this experiment, conducted in a realistic setting show the feasibility of ultralow-dose CT for the detection of pulmonary nodules.

  • Burgard, C. A.
  • Gaass, T.
  • Bonert, M.
  • Bondesson, D.
  • Thaens, N.
  • Reiser, M. F.
  • Dinkel, J.

Keywords

  • Animals
  • *Disease Models, Animal
  • *Phantoms, Imaging
  • *Radiation Dosage
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/*diagnostic imaging
  • Swine
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods
Publication details
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190501
Journal: PloS one
Pages: e0190501 
Number: 1
Work Type: Original
Location: CPC-M
Disease Area: PLI
Partner / Member: LMU, KUM
Access-Number: 29298331
See publication on PubMed

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