Effect of Filtered Back-Projection Filters to Low-Contrast Object Imaging in Ultra-High-Resolution (UHR) Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)

In this study, the effect of filter schemes on several low-contrast materials was compared using standard and ultra-high-resolution (UHR) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. The performance of the UHR-CBCT was quantified by measuring the modulation transfer function (MTF) and the noise power spectrum (NPS). The MTF was measured at the radial location around the cylindrical phantom, whereas the NPS was measured in the eight different homogeneous regions of interest. Six different filter schemes were designed and implemented in the CT sinogram from each imaging configuration. The experimental results indicated that the filter with smaller smoothing window preserved the MTF up to the highest spatial frequency, but larger NPS. In addition, the UHR imaging protocol provided 1.77 times better spatial resolution than the standard acquisition by comparing the specific spatial frequency (f(50)) under the same conditions. The f(50)s with the flat-top window in UHR mode was 1.86, 0.94, 2.52, 2.05, and 1.86 lp/mm for Polyethylene (Material 1, M1), Polystyrene (M2), Nylon (M3), Acrylic (M4), and Polycarbonate (M5), respectively. The smoothing window in the UHR protocol showed a clearer performance in the MTF according to the low-contrast objects, showing agreement with the relative contrast of materials in order of M3, M4, M1, M5, and M2. In conclusion, although the UHR-CBCT showed the disadvantages of acquisition time and radiation dose, it could provide greater spatial resolution with smaller noise property compared to standard imaging; moreover, the optimal window function should be considered in advance for the best UHR performance.