Comparison of noise-magnitude and noise-texture across two generations of iterative reconstruction algorithms from three manufacturers

Purpose: To compare the noise-magnitude and noise-texture across two generations of iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms proposed by three manufacturers according to the dose level.

Materials and methods: Five computed tomography (CT) systems equipped with two generations of IR algorithms (hybrid/statistical IR [H/SIR] or full/partial model-based IR [MBIR]) were compared. Acquisitions on Catphan 600 phantom were performed at 120kV and three dose levels (3-, 7- and 12-mGy). Raw data were reconstructed using standard "soft tissue" kernel for filtered back projection and one iterative level of two generations of IR algorithms. Contrast to-noise-ratio (CNR) was computed using three regions of interest: two of them placed in the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and Teflon^® inserts and another placed on the solid water. Noise power spectrum (NPS) was computed to assess the noise-magnitude (NPS peak) and noise-texture (NPS spatial frequency).

Results: CNR increased significantly in MBIR compared to H/SIR algorithms for General-Electric (GE) Healthcare (45%±12 [SD]) and Philips Healthcare systems (62%±11 [SD]) (P<0.001). Regarding Siemens Healthineers systems, CNR of MBIR was significantly lower than that of H/SIR (mean difference: -4%±5 [SD]) (P<0.001) for Teflon^® insert but not for LDPE insert (mean difference: -4%±7 [SD]) (P=N.S.). NPS peaks were lower with MBIR than with H/SIR for GE Healthcare (-42%±8 [SD]) and Philips Healthcare (-75%±4 [SD]) systems, whereas it was greater with MBIR than with H/SIR for Siemens Healthineers (13%±11 [SD]) systems. NPS spatial frequencies were higher with MBIR than with H/SIR for Siemens (14%±10 [SD]) but lower for others (-17%±5 [SD] for GE Healthineers and -55%±3 [SD] for Philips Healthcare systems).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that recent MBIR algorithms, by comparison with the preceding generation, differ according to the main manufacturers with respect to noise-magnitude and noise-texture.