A framework for realistic virtual clinical trials in photon counting computed tomography

Ehsan Abadi, Brian Harrawood, Jayasai Rajagopal, Shobhit Sharma, Anuj Kapadia, Martin Sedlmair, Juan Carlos Ramirez, Karl Stierstorfer, W. Paul Segars, Ehsan Samei

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although photon counting systems have shown strong clinical potential, this technology has not yet been fully evaluated or optimized for specific clinical applications. The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for realistic virtual clinical trials (VCTs) in photon counting CT (PCCT) imaging. We developed a photon counting CT simulator based on the geometry and physics of an existing research prototype scanner. The developed simulator models primary, scatter, and noise signals, detector responses, vendor-specific bowtie filters and X-ray spectra, axial/helical trajectories, vendor-specific acquisition modes, and multiple energy thresholds per detector pixel. The simulation procedure is accelerated by parallel processing using multiple GPUs. The generated projection images can be reconstructed using generic reconstruction algorithms as well as a commercial reconstruction software (ReconCT Siemens). A computational model of a physical Mercury phantom was imaged at multiple energy thresholds (25 and 75 keV) and dose levels (36, 72, 144, and 216 mAs). Noise magnitude was measured in the simulated images and compared against noise measurements in a real scan acquired with a research prototype photon counting scanner (Siemens Healthcare). The results showed that our simulator was capable of synthesizing realistic photon counting CT data. The simulator can be combined with realistic 4D high-resolution XCAT phantoms with intra-organ heterogeneities to conduct VCTs for specific clinical applications. This framework can greatly facilitate the evaluation, optimization, and eventual clinical use of PCCT.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMedical Imaging 2019
Subtitle of host publicationPhysics of Medical Imaging
EditorsTaly Gilat Schmidt, Guang-Hong Chen, Hilde Bosmans
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510625433
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes
EventMedical Imaging 2019: Physics of Medical Imaging - San Diego, United States
Duration: Feb 17 2019Feb 20 2019

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume10948
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceMedical Imaging 2019: Physics of Medical Imaging
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period02/17/1902/20/19

Funding

This study was supported by a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01EB001838). The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Elizabeth Jones and Dr. Pooyan Sahbaee for their assistance in this project.

Keywords

  • CT simulator
  • Computed Tomography
  • Photon counting CT
  • Virtual clinical trial

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