A study of Parameters in Spiral CT Volumetry Using Balloon Phantoms

Lee, Hak Jong; Han, Joon Koo

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of threshold values, reconstruction interval, slice thickness and table speed on the spiral CT volumetry.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Two phantoms made of a balloon and diluted contrast media underwent spiral CT scanning with section thicknesses of 5, 7 and 10 mm and table speeds of 5, 8 and 10 mm with scans of 5 mm section thickness, 7, 10, and 14 mm with scans of 7 mm section thickness, and 10, 15, and 20 mm with scans of 10 mm section thickness. The volumetric values of phantom A and B were obtained at varying threshold values and a reconstruction interval of 5 and 10 mm for all scans. Volumes were also determined with the threshold value fixed and a reconstruction interval of 1, 5, 7 and 10 mm, respectively. Three-dimensional display and volumetric measurements were obtained using reconstructed images. The effects of threshold value, reconstruction interval, slice thickness and table speed on volumetry were analyzed.
RESULTS
Volumetric values varied according to threshold values. Where a threshold value was low, value increased as pitch increased, but where a the threshold value was high, value decreased as pitch increased. With varying threshold values, measurement errors in hydrostatic volumetry were between 0.19 and 27.98%; at a fixed threshold value, measurement errors in CT volumetry were 1.6 to 9.0%. Volume decreased as reconstruc-tion interval increased. Where the table speed/ slice thickness ratio was constant, volume was constant though slice thickness differed. At fixed threshold values, variation in the reconstruction interval was statistically more significant than variation in slice thickness or table speed ( p<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA).
CONCLUSION
Among serveral spiral scanning and image reconstruction parameters including threshold value, reconstruction interval, slice thickness, and table speed, threshold value most affected the result obtained. At fixed threshold values, the reconstruction interval usded had more effect on CT volumetry than other parameters.