OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detectability of pulmonary nodules in chest tomosynthesis at reduced radiation dose levels. METHODS: Eighty-six patients were included in the study and were examined with tomosynthesis and computed tomography (CT). Artificial noise was added to simulate that the tomosynthesis images were acquired at dose levels corresponding to 12, 32, and 70% of the default setting effective dose (0.12 mSv). Three observers (with >20, >20 and three years of experience) read the tomosynthesis cases for presence of nodules in a free-response receiver operating characteristics (FROC) study. CT served as reference. Differences between dose levels were calculated using the jack-knife alternative FROC (JAFROC) figure of merit (FOM). RESULTS: The JAFROC FOM was 0.45, 0.54, 0.55, and 0.54 for the 12, 32, 70, and 100% dose levels, respectively. The differences in FOM between the 12% dose level and the 32, 70, and 100% dose levels were 0.087 (p = 0.006), 0.099 (p = 0.003), and 0.093 (p = 0.004), respectively. Between higher dose levels, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial reduction from the default setting dose in chest tomosynthesis may be possible. In the present study, no statistically significant difference in detectability of pulmonary nodules was found when reducing the radiation dose to 32%. KEY POINTS: • A substantial radiation dose reduction in chest tomosynthesis may be possible. • Pulmonary nodule detectability remained unchanged at 32% of the effective dose. • Tomosynthesis might be performed at the dose of a lateral chest radiograph.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detectability of pulmonary nodules in chest tomosynthesis at reduced radiation dose levels. METHODS: Eighty-six patients were included in the study and were examined with tomosynthesis and computed tomography (CT). Artificial noise was added to simulate that the tomosynthesis images were acquired at dose levels corresponding to 12, 32, and 70% of the default setting effective dose (0.12 mSv). Three observers (with >20, >20 and three years of experience) read the tomosynthesis cases for presence of nodules in a free-response receiver operating characteristics (FROC) study. CT served as reference. Differences between dose levels were calculated using the jack-knife alternative FROC (JAFROC) figure of merit (FOM). RESULTS: The JAFROC FOM was 0.45, 0.54, 0.55, and 0.54 for the 12, 32, 70, and 100% dose levels, respectively. The differences in FOM between the 12% dose level and the 32, 70, and 100% dose levels were 0.087 (p = 0.006), 0.099 (p = 0.003), and 0.093 (p = 0.004), respectively. Between higher dose levels, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial reduction from the default setting dose in chest tomosynthesis may be possible. In the present study, no statistically significant difference in detectability of pulmonary nodules was found when reducing the radiation dose to 32%. KEY POINTS: • A substantial radiation dose reduction in chest tomosynthesis may be possible. • Pulmonary nodule detectability remained unchanged at 32% of the effective dose. • Tomosynthesis might be performed at the dose of a lateral chest radiograph.
Authors: Markus Håkansson; Magnus Båth; Sara Börjesson; Susanne Kheddache; Anna Grahn; Mark Ruschin; Anders Tingberg; Sören Mattsson; Lars Gunnar Månsson Journal: Radiat Prot Dosimetry Date: 2005 Impact factor: 0.972
Authors: Magnus Båth; Markus Håkansson; Sara Börjesson; Susanne Kheddache; Anna Grahn; Mark Ruschin; Anders Tingberg; Sören Mattsson; Lars Gunnar Månsson Journal: Radiat Prot Dosimetry Date: 2005 Impact factor: 0.972
Authors: Sara Börjesson; Markus Håkansson; Magnus Båth; Susanne Kheddache; Sune Svensson; Anders Tingberg; Anna Grahn; Mark Ruschin; Bengt Hemdal; Sören Mattsson; Lars Gunnar Månsson Journal: Radiat Prot Dosimetry Date: 2005 Impact factor: 0.972
Authors: Markus Håkansson; Sune Svensson; Sara Zachrisson; Angelica Svalkvist; Magnus Båth; Lars Gunnar Månsson Journal: Radiat Prot Dosimetry Date: 2010-03-03 Impact factor: 0.972