Improved coronary artery calcium (CAC) detection in conventional CT with deep-learning image de-blurring

Christian Wülker*, Niels R. van der Werf, Nikolas D. Schnellbächer, Marcel J.W. Greuter, Michael Grass

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

We investigated the impact of a CNN-based deep-learning (DL) image de-blurring algorithm on coronary artery calcium (CAC) detection performance in conventional CT imaging. Our approach comprises first de-noising the image with a state-of-the-art CNN-based image de-noising algorithm. With improved SNR, it is then possible to sharpen the image with a CNN-based image de-blurring algorithm. We train such networks using natural images, i.e., a large set of diverse photographs. The de-noising strength in the final image can be adjusted by blending back the estimated noise from the first step to the desired degree. To assess the impact of the de-blurring algorithm, we scanned an anthropomorphic phantom containing 100 small calcifications on a CT system using a CAC scoring protocol. Data were acquired at clinical and high dose, and subsequently reconstructed with and without the DL de-blurring algorithm, using 25% of the maximum de-noising strength. For each small CAC, detectability was defined as the ability to calculate an Agatston score (at least 3 adjacent voxels exceeding 130 HU). For the high dose scans, CAC detectability increased from 39% for the standard reconstruction to 49% with de-blurring. The same 39% CAC detectability at high dose without de-blurring was obtained with routine dose with de-blurring. In this work, we also show some visual impressions of applying our DL de-blurring method to clinical cardiac data.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMedical Imaging 2024
Subtitle of host publicationPhysics of Medical Imaging
EditorsRebecca Fahrig, John M. Sabol, Ke Li
PublisherSPIE
Volume12925
ISBN (Electronic)9781510671546
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1-Apr-2024
EventMedical Imaging 2024: Physics of Medical Imaging - San Diego, United States
Duration: 19-Feb-202422-Feb-2024

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume12925
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceMedical Imaging 2024: Physics of Medical Imaging
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period19/02/202422/02/2024

Keywords

  • clinical task-based metrics
  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • coronary artery calcium
  • de-blurring
  • deep learning
  • denoising
  • image quality
  • machine learning

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