Dual-energy CT imaging with limited-angular-range data

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel directional-total-variation (DTV) algorithm for dual-energy CT imaging with limited-angular-range data, significantly reducing artifacts and enabling accurate physical quantity estimation from less than 180° scans.

Contribution

The study develops a convex optimization-based DTV algorithm tailored for LAR DECT, demonstrating improved image quality and quantitative accuracy over existing methods.

Findings

Substantially reduced artifacts in LAR images.

Accurate estimation of atomic number and iodine concentration.

Comparable results to full-angular-range DECT.

Abstract

In dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), low- and high- kVp data are collected often over a full-angular range (FAR) of $360^\circ$. While there exists strong interest in DECT with low- and high-kVp data acquired over limited-angular ranges (LARs), there remains little investigation of image reconstruction in DECT with LAR data. Objective: We investigate image reconstruction with minimized LAR artifacts from low- and high-kVp data over LARs of $\le 180^\circ$ by using a directional-total-variation (DTV) algorithm. Methods: Image reconstruction from LAR data is formulated as a convex optimization problem in which data-$\ell_2$ is minimized with constraints on image's DTVs along orthogonal axes. We then achieve image reconstruction by applying the DTV algorithm to solve the optimization problem. We conduct numerical studies from data generated over arcs of LARs, ranging from $14^\circ$ to $180^\circ$, and perform visual inspection and quantitative analysis of images reconstructed. Results: Monochromatic images of interest obtained with the DTV algorithm from LAR data show substantially reduced artifacts that are observed often in images obtained with existing algorithms. The improved image quality also leads to accurate estimation of physical quantities of interest, such as effective atomic number and iodine-contrast concentration. Conclusion: Our study reveals that from LAR data of low- and high-kVp, monochromatic images can be obtained that are visually, and physical quantities can be estimated that are quantitatively, comparable to those obtained in FAR DECT. Significance: As LAR DECT is of high practical application interest, the results acquired in the work may engender insights into the design of DECT with LAR scanning configurations of practical application significance.