Correction of Bowtie-Filter Normalization and Crescent Artifacts for a Clinical CBCT System

Hong Zhang, Vic Kong, Ke Huang, Jian Yue Jin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To present our experiences in understanding and minimizing bowtie-filter crescent artifacts and bowtie-filter normalization artifacts in a clinical cone beam computed tomography system. Methods: Bowtie-filter position and profile variations during gantry rotation were studied. Two previously proposed strategies (A and B) were applied to the clinical cone beam computed tomography system to correct bowtie-filter crescent artifacts. Physical calibration and analytical approaches were used to minimize the norm phantom misalignment and to correct for bowtie-filter normalization artifacts. A combined procedure to reduce bowtie-filter crescent artifacts and bowtie-filter normalization artifacts was proposed and tested on a norm phantom, CatPhan, and a patient and evaluated using standard deviation of Hounsfield unit along a sampling line. Results: The bowtie-filter exhibited not only a translational shift but also an amplitude variation in its projection profile during gantry rotation. Strategy B was better than strategy A slightly in minimizing bowtie-filter crescent artifacts, possibly because it corrected the amplitude variation, suggesting that the amplitude variation plays a role in bowtie-filter crescent artifacts. The physical calibration largely reduced the misalignment-induced bowtie-filter normalization artifacts, and the analytical approach further reduced bowtie-filter normalization artifacts. The combined procedure minimized both bowtie-filter crescent artifacts and bowtie-filter normalization artifacts, with Hounsfield unit standard deviation being 63.2, 45.0, 35.0, and 18.8 Hounsfield unit for the best correction approaches of none, bowtie-filter crescent artifacts, bowtie-filter normalization artifacts, and bowtie-filter normalization artifacts + bowtie-filter crescent artifacts, respectively. The combined procedure also demonstrated reduction of bowtie-filter crescent artifacts and bowtie-filter normalization artifacts in a CatPhan and a patient. Conclusion: We have developed a step-by-step procedure that can be directly used in clinical cone beam computed tomography systems to minimize both bowtie-filter crescent artifacts and bowtie-filter normalization artifacts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)81-91
Number of pages11
JournalTechnology in Cancer Research and Treatment
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • bowtie-filter crescent artifacts
  • bowtie-filter normalization artifacts
  • cone-beam CT image
  • geometric calibration
  • geometric nonideality
  • image artifacts
  • normalization calibration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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