Journal article
Comparison of Quantitative Lung Measures in Low Dose Energy-Integrating Detector and Photon-Counting Detector Chest CT with an Anthropomorphic Phantom
Biomedical physics & engineering express, Vol.11(6), 065032
11/28/2025
DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ae0e27
PMID: 41033329
Abstract
Photon-counting detector (PCD) computed tomography (CT) promises improved resolution and contrast at reduced X-ray dose compared to energy-integrating detector (EID) CT. To determine the parameters that achieve robust accuracy of quantitative measures in chest PCD-CT studies compared to quantitative EID-CT at low CT dose. The Kyoto LUNGMAN chest phantom with preserved lung tissue core and NIST-calibrated foam density standards (4-20 lbs.), and the COPD Lung Phantom II with six airways of various outer and inner diameters, were scanned using PCD-CT (NAEOTOM Alpha) and EID-CT (SOMATOM Force) with a target CT dose index (CTDIvol) of 2.2 mGy to match that specified for ongoing longitudinal quantitative chest CT studies of chronic lung disease. Mean density of foam inserts and mean lumen area (LA) and wall thickness (WT) of COPD Lung Phantom II were automatically segmented, analyzed, and compared using the root mean squared error (RMSE). Contrast-to-noise (CNR) and signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios were also automatically calculated. Large (11.2 mm) and small (5.5 mm) airway LA and WT in the lung tissue core were semi-automatically measured. PCD-CT with the Qr40 kernel yielded superior foam density accuracy (RMSE: 6.1-7.8 HU) compared to EID-CT (RMSE: 9.7 HU). Q+UHR mode with Qr64 and a 1024×1024 matrix achieved the highest airway accuracy (RMSE <1.8 mm² for LA and <0.3 mm for WT). However, these protocols showed increased variability in tracheal air measurements (SD up to 9 HU), indicating a trade-off between higher spatial resolution and measurement repeatability. At equivalent low radiation dose (2.2 mGy CTDIvol), PCD-CT outperforms EID-CT in quantitative accuracy for foam density and airway measurements, with comparable SNR and CNR. These results support the use of PCD-CT for quantitative lung imaging in longitudinal studies, provided reconstruction settings are selected to balance accuracy and repeatability.
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Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Comparison of Quantitative Lung Measures in Low Dose Energy-Integrating Detector and Photon-Counting Detector Chest CT with an Anthropomorphic Phantom
- Creators
- Natally ALArab - University of Iowa, RadiologyMarrissa McIntosh - University of IowaJunfeng Guo - University of IowaAbhilash Srikumar Kizhakke Puliyakote - University of IowaJarron Atha - University of IowaJessica Sieren - University of IowaEric A Hoffman - University of IowaEhsan Abadi - Duke UniversitySean B Fain - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Biomedical physics & engineering express, Vol.11(6), 065032
- DOI
- 10.1088/2057-1976/ae0e27
- PMID
- 41033329
- NLM abbreviation
- Biomed Phys Eng Express
- ISSN
- 2057-1976
- eISSN
- 2057-1976
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing Ltd
- Grant note
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Post-doctoral Fellowship AwardUniversity of Iowa Department of Radiology, NIH/NHLBI: R01HL155293, R01HL169765 Siemens HealthcareAmerican Lung AssociationOffice of the Vice President
The authors would like to acknowledge research funding from Siemens Healthcare, University of Iowa Office of the Vice President of Research, University of Iowa Department of Radiology, NIH/NHLBI R01HL169765, R01HL155293, American Lung Association and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/01/2025
- Date published
- 11/28/2025
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology ; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984969111902771
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