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Low-Dose CT of the Abdomen: Evaluation of Image Improvement with Use of Noise Reduction Filters—Pilot Study¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, White 270-E, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114 (M.K.K., M.M.M., D.V.S., M.A.B., P.F.H., E.H., S.S.); and GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, Wis (G.B.A., T.L.T.). Received June 10, 2002; revision requested August 20; revision received September 5; accepted October 24. Supported in part by a grant from GE Medical Systems. Address correspondence to S.S. (e-mail: ssaini@partners.org).

A prospective assessment of improvement in image quality at low–radiation-dose computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen by using noise reduction filters was performed. CT images acquired at standard and 50% reduced tube current were processed with six noise reduction filters and evaluated by three radiologists for image noise, sharpness, contrast, and overall image quality in terms of abdominal organ depiction. Quantitative image noise and contrast-to-noise ratio were measured. Baseline low-dose CT images were significantly worse than standard-dose CT images (P < .05). A statistically significant reduction of noise in low-dose images processed with three filters was noted. In conclusion, use of noise reduction filters decreased image noise at low-dose CT.

© RSNA, 2003

Index terms: Abdomen, CT, 70.12112, 76.12112 • Computed tomography (CT), image processing • Computed tomography (CT), image quality • Computed tomography (CT), radiation exposure • Radiations, exposure to patients and personnel

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