Optimization And Clinical Application Of Image Process Parameters Of Digital Radiography

PurposeIn the optimization process of lumbar spine examinations, factorial experiments were performed addressing the question of whether the effective dose can be reduced and the image quality maintained by adjusting the image processing parameters. We also testify this project by phantoms, Monte Carlo programs and clinic cases.Material and methodsThis study investigates the influence of image processing parameters on image quality for Philips DR system by evaluating image quality of CDRAD2.0 phantom. We measure the entrance surface dose of phantom by solidose meter. We propose a synthetical parameters optimization project by analyze the results of the investigation. We also testify this project by phantoms, Monte Carlo programs and clinic cases.ResultsImportant effects are the main effects of unsharp masking, kernel and DCE ( P<0.0001) at the clinically used tube potential of 70 kVp. These effects indicate an increase of the IQF with increasing unsharp masking while an increase of DCE and kernel led to a decreased IQF. When the tube potential was increased to 85 kV, keeping the settings of the process parameters unchanged, the IQF increased (t=5.31,P=0.0001). There was a significant three-way interaction between the unsharp masking enhancement factor, kernel size and noise compensation indicating that the interaction between unsharp masking and kernel size was more pronounced at the low level of noise compensation. When testified the project by abdomen phantom, the entrance surface dose was reduced over 50%, while the image quality changed little. When testified the project by Monte Carlo program, the effective dose resulted in a 30% lower effective dose. Effective dose could be lowered by 20-30% when dose optimization projects were used, which could be seen from the result of clinic testification. ConclusionA 2k-factorial design was used which is a systematic and effective method of investigating the influence of many parameters on a result variable. It is possible to lower the effective dose to the patient dose by the use of a higher tube potential and maintain a good image quality and have little influence on clinic diagnosis through the most optimal setting of the process parameters.