Abdi Ahmed Jibril, Precht Helle, Outzen Claus Bjørn, Jensen Janni
Department of Clinical Engineering, Region of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
Research and Innovation Unit of Radiology, University of Southern Denmark, Kløvervænget 10, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 May 30;15(11):1391. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics15111391.
This study quantitatively evaluates the novel Intelligent Noise Reduction (INR) software NE 3.10.0.15 across three chest radiography protocols, namely, physical anti-scatter grid, non-grid, and virtual anti-scatter grid, to optimise the patient radiation dose while maintaining sufficient image quality. Quantitative image quality and radiation dose were evaluated using a CDRAD phantom with 20 cm PMMA to simulate the patient across three chest protocol settings at INR levels of 0, 5, and 8 for both PA and LAT projections. Effective doses were estimated using PCXMC Monte Carlo simulation software 2.0. The findings revealed significant improvements in image quality with increasing INR levels, with INR8 consistently outperforming INR5 and non-INR settings. Protocols employing virtual or no grid achieved substantial radiation dose reductions of 77-82% compared to the physical grid. The virtual grid did enhance the quantitative image quality by 6-9% compared to non-grid configurations. INR software, particularly when combined with virtual anti-scatter grids, offers a promising solution for improving image quality while significantly reducing the patient radiation dose in chest radiography. Future clinical validation, incorporating subjective visual assessments by radiologists, is recommended to confirm these findings and facilitate the integration of INR closer to clinical practice.
本研究对新型智能降噪（INR）软件NE 3.10.0.15在三种胸部X线摄影协议（即物理防散射格栅、无格栅和虚拟防散射格栅）下进行了定量评估，以在保持足够图像质量的同时优化患者辐射剂量。使用带有20 cm PMMA的CDRAD体模评估定量图像质量和辐射剂量，以模拟患者在INR水平为0、5和8时的三种胸部协议设置下的前后位（PA）和侧位（LAT）投影。使用PCXMC蒙特卡罗模拟软件2.0估计有效剂量。研究结果显示，随着INR水平的提高，图像质量有显著改善，INR8始终优于INR5和非INR设置。与物理格栅相比，采用虚拟或无格栅的协议可实现77 - 82%的显著辐射剂量降低。与无格栅配置相比，虚拟格栅确实将定量图像质量提高了6 - 9%。INR软件，特别是与虚拟防散射格栅结合使用时，为提高胸部X线摄影的图像质量同时显著降低患者辐射剂量提供了一个有前景的解决方案。建议进行未来的临床验证，纳入放射科医生的主观视觉评估，以确认这些发现并促进INR更接近临床实践的整合。
