Effects of x-ray scatter in quantitative dual-energy imaging using dual-layer flat panel detectors

Chumin Zhao, Stephen Z. Liu, Wenying Wang, Magdalena Herbst, Thomas Weber, Sebastian Vogt, Ludwig Ritschl, Steffen Kappler, J. Webster Stayman, Jeffrey H. Siewerdsen, Wojciech Zbijewski

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Purpose: We compare the effects of scatter on the accuracy of areal bone mineral density (BMD) measurements obtained using two flat-panel detector (FPD) dual-energy (DE) imaging configurations: a dual-kV acquisition and a dual-layer detector. Methods: Simulations of DE projection imaging were performed with realistic models of x-ray spectra, scatter, and detector response for dual-kV and dual-layer configurations. A digital body phantom with 4 cm Ca inserts in place of vertebrae (concentrations 50 - 400 mg/mL) was used. The dual-kV configuration involved an 80 kV low-energy (LE) and a 120 kV high-energy (HE) beam and a single-layer, 43x43 cm FPD with a 650 μm cesium iodide (CsI) scintillator. The dual-layer configuration involved a 120 kV beam and an FPD consisting of a 200 μm CsI layer (LE data), followed by a 1 mm Cu filter, and a 550 μm CsI layer (HE data). We investigated the effects of an anti-scatter grid (13:1 ratio) and scatter correction. For the correction, the sensitivity to scatter estimation error (varied ±10% of true scatter distribution) was evaluated. Areal BMD was estimated from projection-domain DE decomposition. Results: In the gridless dual-kV setup, the scatter-to-primary ratio (SPR) was similar for the LE and HE projections, whereas in the gridless dual layer setup, the SPR was ∼26% higher in the LE channel (top CsI layer) than in the HE channel (bottom layer). Because of the resulting bias in LE measurements, the conventional projection-domain DE decomposition could not be directly applied to dual-layer data; this challenge persisted even in the presence of a grid. In contrast, DE decomposition of dual-kV data was possible both without and with the grid; the BMD error of the 400 mg/mL insert was -0.4 g/cm2 without the grid and +0.3 g/cm2 with the grid. The dual-layer FPD configuration required accurate scatter correction for DE decomposition: a -5% scatter estimation error resulted in -0.1 g/cm2 BMD error for the 50 mg/mL insert and a -0.5 g/cm2 BMD error for the 400 mg/mL with a grid, compared to <0.1 g/cm2 for all inserts in a dual-kV setup with the same scatter estimation error. Conclusion: This comparative study of quantitative performance of dual-layer and dual-kV FPD-based DE imaging indicates the need for accurate scatter correction in the dual-layer setup due to increased susceptibility to scatter errors in the LE channel.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMedical Imaging 2021
Subtitle of host publicationPhysics of Medical Imaging
EditorsHilde Bosmans, Wei Zhao, Lifeng Yu
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510640191
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
EventMedical Imaging 2021: Physics of Medical Imaging - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: Feb 15 2021Feb 19 2021

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume11595
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceMedical Imaging 2021: Physics of Medical Imaging
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period2/15/212/19/21

Keywords

  • Dual-energy material decomposition
  • Dual-kv
  • Multi-layer detector
  • Quantitative imaging
  • X-ray scatter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biomaterials
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of x-ray scatter in quantitative dual-energy imaging using dual-layer flat panel detectors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this