While the first century of medical x-ray imaging offered an unprecedented advance via projection imaging and computed tomography (CT), its second century will be marked by more intelligent application and utilization of x-ray spectral and tomographic information, novel source-detector configurations, and minimization of radiation dose. Such is evidenced by recent work in low-dose CT, dual-energy (DE) CT, and cone-beam CT (CBCT) and is crystal clear in recent scientific and popular communication of CT utilization. Application of DE-CT is seen in abdominal (e.g., renal calculi), musculoskeletal (MSK, e.g., arthritis), and neuro (e.g., perfusion) imaging. Key to the knowledgeable advance of spectral / tomographic techniques is a basis for performance assessment and optimization that considers not only the physics of x-ray detection and image reconstruction, but also the imaging task - and moreover - in a manner that maximizes task performance while minimizing radiation dose. This project renewal builds on the success of the original R01 in which a task-based framework for imaging performance was extended to DE imaging and CBCT, providing: i.) a bridge from fundamental Fourier-domain metrics such as noise-equivalent quanta (NEQ) to real and model observer performance;ii.) a quantitative framework for optimization of new DE and CBCT technologies;and iii.) an approach shown to accelerate translation of new technology knowledgeably to key clinical applications. By combining the models for DE imaging and CBCT, the current work aims to develop a framework for imaging performance in DE-CBCT, tackling challenges that beckon in regard to new detector technologies and image decomposition techniques and applying the results specifically to a novel DE-CBCT prototype for MSK imaging.
The aims of the proposal are to: 1.) Establish a model task-based framework for DE-CBCT performance that relates NEQ to specific detection / discrimination tasks and provides a basis for system optimization and dose minimization;2.) Extend the framework to energy-integrating and energy-discriminating detector technology (viz., flat-panel detectors and photon counters) and validate performance versus benchtop measurements in phantom and cadaver;3.) Extend the framework to reconstruction-based and projection-based DE-CBCT image decomposition, including noise reduction algorithms, to elucidate the advantages of each and optimize implementation in specific imaging tasks;and 4.) Translate the results to a prototype MSK extremities CBCT scanner (already constructed in a separate project) to implement and evaluate optimal DE-CBCT techniques in MSK imaging tasks (e.g., calcium-iodine, calcium-uric acid, and intrinsic soft-tissue discrimination). Successful completion of the work offers a quantitative framework for evaluation of new and existing DE-CT/CBCT systems, a guide to knowledgeable translation of this rapidly proliferating technology, a quantitative basis for minimizing radiation dose with respect to the imaging task, and a specific advance in application to MSK imaging (e.g., osteoarthritis, gout, soft-tissue and bone tumors, and tissue impingement syndromes).

Public Health Relevance

Emerging technologies for x-ray spectral tomography (commonly, dual-energy CT) offer to transcend conventional limitations of contrast resolution in single-energy CT and present a significant advance to diagnosis and therapy assessment in a broad range of pathologies characterized by distinct biochemical change - e.g., arthritis (including osteoarthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis), kidney stones, and vascular or intra-articular contrast enhancement using iodine or novel contrast agents. As such technology advances in broader proliferation (e.g., in Gout Centers established around the country), there is an immediate need for an image science basis for quantitatively understanding the factors that govern imaging performance, identifying optimal imaging techniques, and minimizing radiation dose in a manner that maintains performance of the imaging task. This proposal advances an image science framework for spectral tomographic imaging to yield a validated model for technique optimization, guiding the development of new dual-energy CT detectors and algorithms, and translating the understanding specifically to a scanner prototype for musculoskeletal extremities (e.g., imaging of arthritis, gout, cartilage degeneration, and tissue impingement syndromes).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA112163-07
Application #
8504974
Study Section
Biomedical Imaging Technology Study Section (BMIT)
Program Officer
Zhang, Yantian
Project Start
2004-12-01
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$295,344
Indirect Cost
$115,256
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Sisniega, A; Stayman, J W; Yorkston, J et al. (2017) Motion compensation in extremity cone-beam CT using a penalized image sharpness criterion. Phys Med Biol 62:3712-3734
Punnoose, J; Xu, J; Sisniega, A et al. (2016) Technical Note: spektr 3.0-A computational tool for x-ray spectrum modeling and analysis. Med Phys 43:4711
Sisniega, A; Zbijewski, W; Stayman, J W et al. (2016) Volumetric CT with sparse detector arrays (and application to Si-strip photon counters). Phys Med Biol 61:90-113
Dang, H; Stayman, J W; Xu, J et al. (2016) Task-Based Regularization Design for Detection of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Cone-Beam CT. Conf Proc Int Conf Image Form Xray Comput Tomogr 2016:557-560
Demehri, S; Muhit, A; Zbijewski, W et al. (2015) Assessment of image quality in soft tissue and bone visualization tasks for a dedicated extremity cone-beam CT system. Eur Radiol 25:1742-51
Sisniega, A; Zbijewski, W; Stayman, J W et al. (2015) Spectral CT of the Extremities with a Silicon Strip Photon Counting Detector. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng 9412:
Dang, H; Stayman, J W; Sisniega, A et al. (2015) Statistical reconstruction for cone-beam CT with a post-artifact-correction noise model: application to high-quality head imaging. Phys Med Biol 60:6153-75
Zbijewski, W; Sisniega, A; Stayman, J W et al. (2015) Dual-Energy Imaging of Bone Marrow Edema on a Dedicated Multi-Source Cone-Beam CT System for the Extremities. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng 9412:
Gang, Grace J; Stayman, J Webster; Ehtiati, Tina et al. (2015) Task-driven image acquisition and reconstruction in cone-beam CT. Phys Med Biol 60:3129-50
Cao, Qian; Thawait, Gaurav; Gang, Grace J et al. (2015) Characterization of 3D joint space morphology using an electrostatic model (with application to osteoarthritis). Phys Med Biol 60:947-60

Showing the most recent 10 out of 49 publications