Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Iterative reconstruction techniques for computed tomography Part 1: Technical principles

  • Computed Tomography
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To explain the technical principles of and differences between commercially available iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms for computed tomography (CT) in non-mathematical terms for radiologists and clinicians.

Methods

Technical details of the different proprietary IR techniques were distilled from available scientific articles and manufacturers' white papers and were verified by the manufacturers. Clinical results were obtained from a literature search spanning January 2006 to January 2012, including only original research papers concerning IR for CT.

Results

IR for CT iteratively reduces noise and artefacts in either image space or raw data, or both. Reported dose reductions ranged from 23 % to 76 % compared to locally used default filtered back-projection (FBP) settings, with similar noise, artefacts, subjective, and objective image quality.

Conclusion

IR has the potential to allow reducing the radiation dose while preserving image quality. Disadvantages of IR include blotchy image appearance and longer computational time. Future studies need to address differences between IR algorithms for clinical low-dose CT.

Key Points

• Iterative reconstruction technology for CT is presented in non-mathematical terms.

• IR reduces noise and artefacts compared to filtered back-projection.

• IR can improve image quality in routine-dose CT and lower the radiation dose.

• IR's disadvantages include longer computation and blotchy appearance of some images.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

Abbreviations

AIDR 3D:

Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction 3D

ART:

Algebraic reconstruction technique

ASIR:

Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction

CNR:

Contrast-to-noise ratio

CT:

Computed tomography

CTDIvol :

Volume Computed Tomography Dose Index

DLP:

Dose-length product

FBP:

Filtered back-projection

IRIS:

Iterative Reconstruction in Image Space

MBIR:

Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction

SAFIRE:

Sinogram-Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

References

  1. Xu J, Mahesh M, Tsui BM (2009) Is iterative reconstruction ready for MDCT? J Am Coll Radiol 6:274–276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brenner DJ, Hall EJ (2007) Computed tomography—an increasing source of radiation exposure. N Engl J Med 357:2277–2284

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Smith-Bindman R (2010) Is computed tomography safe? N Engl J Med 363:1–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hall EJ, Brenner DJ (2008) Cancer risks from diagnostic radiology. Br J Radiol 81:362–378

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Smith-Bindman R, Miglioretti DL, Johnson E et al (2012) Use of diagnostic imaging studies and associated radiation exposure for patients enrolled in large integrated health care systems, 1996-2010. JAMA 307:2400–2409

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bogdanich W (2011) Radiation Boom. The New York Times. Available via http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/us/series/radiation_boom/index.html. Accessed Nov 2012

  7. Lee TY, Chhem RK (2010) Impact of new technologies on dose reduction in CT. Eur J Radiol 76:28–35

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hentel KD, Sharma R, Wladyka C, Min RJ (2011) Appropriate use of CT in the emergency department. Emerg Med 1:6–13

    Google Scholar 

  9. Macias CG, Sahouria JJ (2011) The appropriate use of CT: quality improvement and clinical decision-making in pediatric emergency medicine. Pediatr Radiol 41(Suppl 2):498–504

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Taylor AJ, Cerqueira M, Hodgson JM et al (2010) ACCF/SCCT/ACR/AHA/ASE/ASNC/NASCI/SCAI/SCMR 2010 Appropriate Use Criteria for Cardiac Computed Tomography. A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, the American College of Radiology, the American Heart Association, the American Society of Echocardiography, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. Circulation 122:e525-e555

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kerl JM, Bauer RW, Maurer TB et al (2011) Dose levels at coronary CT angiography—a comparison of dual energy, dual source and 16-slice CT. Eur Radiol 21:530–537

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Fleischmann D, Boas FE (2011) Computed tomography—old ideas and new technology. Eur Radiol 21:510–517

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Pan X, Sidky EY, Vannier M (2009) Why do commercial CT scanners still employ traditional, filtered back-projection for image reconstruction? Inverse Probl 25:1230009

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nelson RC, Feuerlein S, Boll DT (2011) New iterative reconstruction techniques for cardiovascular computed tomography: how do they work, and what are the advantages and disadvantages? J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 5:286–292

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Funama Y, Taguchi K, Utsunomiya D et al (2011) Combination of a low-tube-voltage technique with hybrid iterative reconstruction (iDose) algorithm at coronary computed tomographic angiography. J Comput Assist Tomogr 35:480–485

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gervaise A, Osemont B, Lecocq S et al (2012) CT image quality improvement using adaptive iterative dose reduction with wide-volume acquisition on 320-detector CT. Eur Radiol 22:295–301

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Korn A, Fenchel M, Bender B et al (2011) Iterative reconstruction in head CT: image quality of routine and low-dose protocols in comparison with standard filtered back-projection. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 33:218–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Prakash P, Kalra MK, Digumarthy SR et al (2010) Radiation dose reduction with chest computed tomography using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique: initial experience. J Comput Assist Tomogr 34:40–45

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Winklehner A, Karlo C, Puippe G et al (2011) Raw data-based iterative reconstruction in body CTA: evaluation of radiation dose saving potential. Eur Radiol 21:2521–2526

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Sato J, Akahane M, Inano S et al (2011) Effect of radiation dose and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction on image quality of pulmonary computed tomography. Jpn J Radiol 30:146–153

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Moscariello A, Takx RA, Schoepf UJ et al (2011) Coronary CT angiography: image quality, diagnostic accuracy, and potential for radiation dose reduction using a novel iterative image reconstruction technique-comparison with traditional filtered back projection. Eur Radiol 21:2130–2138

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Singh S, Kalra MK, Gilman MD et al (2011) Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique for radiation dose reduction in chest CT: a pilot study. Radiology 259:565–573

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Pontana F, Duhamel A, Pagniez J et al (2011) Chest computed tomography using iterative reconstruction vs filtered back projection (part 2): image quality of low-dose CT examinations in 80 patients. Eur Radiol 21:636–643

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Leipsic J, Labounty TM, Heilbron B et al (2010) Estimated radiation dose reduction using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction in coronary CT angiography: the ERASIR study. AJR Am J Roentgenol 195:655–660

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Yanagawa M, Honda O, Kikuyama A et al (2012) Pulmonary nodules: Effect of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technique on performance of a computer-aided detection (CAD) system-Comparison of performance between different-dose CT scans. Eur J Radiol 81:2877–2886

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Leipsic J, Heilbron BG, Hague C (2012) Iterative reconstruction for coronary CT angiography: finding its way. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 28:613–620

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Grant K, Flohr T (2010) Iterative Reconstruction in Image Space (IRIS). Siemens Medical Solutions Whitepaper. Available via http://www.medical.siemens.com/siemens/en_US/gg_ct_FBAs/files/Case_Studies/IRIS_Whitepaper.pdf. Accessed Nov 2012

  28. Grant K, Raupach R (2012) SAFIRE: Sinogram Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction. Siemens Medical Solutions Whitepaper. Available via http://www.medical.siemens.com/siemens/en_US/gg_ct_FBAs/files/Definition_AS/Safire.pdf. Accessed Nov 2012

  29. Irwan B, Nakanishi S, Blum A (2012) AIDR 3D - reduces dose and simultaneously improves image quality. Toshiba Medical Systems Whitepaper. Available via http://www.toshiba-medical.eu/upload/TMSE_CT/White%20Papers/White%20Papers/Toshiba_White%20paper%20CT_nov11.pdf?epslanguage=en. Accessed Nov 2012

  30. Noel PB, Fingerle AA, Renger B, Munzel D, Rummeny EJ, Dobritz M (2011) Initial performance characterization of a clinical noise-suppressing reconstruction algorithm for MDCT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 197:1404–1409

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Scibelli A (2011) iDose4 iterative reconstruction technique. Philips Healthcare Whitepaper. Available via https://www.healthcare.philips.com/pwc_hc/main/shared/Assets/Documents/ct/idose_white_paper_452296267841.pdf. Accessed Nov 2012

  32. Hara AK, Paden RG, Silva AC, Kujak JL, Lawder HJ, Pavlicek W (2009) Iterative reconstruction technique for reducing body radiation dose at CT: feasibility study. AJR Am J Roentgenol 193:764–771

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Thibault JB, Sauer KD, Bouman CA, Hsieh J (2007) A three-dimensional statistical approach to improved image quality for multislice helical CT. Med Phys 34:4526–4544

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Silva AC, Lawder HJ, Hara A, Kujak J, Pavlicek W (2010) Innovations in CT dose reduction strategy: application of the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction algorithm. AJR Am J Roentgenol 194:191–199

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Sagara Y, Hara AK, Pavlicek W, Silva AC, Paden RG, Wu Q (2010) Abdominal CT: comparison of low-dose CT with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction and routine-dose CT with filtered back projection in 53 patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol 195:713–719

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. GE Healthcare (2011) Computed tomography: ASiR* High Image Quality and Low Dose: Forget compromise. Available via http://www.gehealthcare.com/euen/ct/products/Asir/. Accessed Nov 2012.

  37. Thibault JB (2010) Veo: CT model-based iterative reconstruction. GE Healthcare Whitepaper. Available via http://www.gehealthcare.com/dose/pdfs/Veo_white_paper.pdf. Accessed Nov 2012

  38. Scheffel H, Stolzmann P, Schlett CL et al (2011) Coronary artery plaques: cardiac CT with model-based and adaptive-statistical iterative reconstruction technique. Eur J Radiol 81:e363–e369

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Bittencourt MS, Schmidt B, Seltmann M et al (2011) Iterative reconstruction in image space (IRIS) in cardiac computed tomography: initial experience. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 27:1081–1087

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Bulla S, Blanke P, Hassepass F et al (2012) Reducing the radiation dose for low-dose CT of the paranasal sinuses using iterative reconstruction: feasibility and image quality. Eur J Radiol 81:2246–2250

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Ghetti C, Ortenzia O, Serreli G (2011) CT iterative reconstruction in image space: a phantom study. Phys Med 28:161–165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Hu XH, Ding XF, Wu RZ, Zhang MM (2011) Radiation dose of non-enhanced chest CT can be reduced 40 % by using iterative reconstruction in image space. Clin Radiol 66:1023–1029

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Lee SJ, Park SH, Kim AY et al (2011) A prospective comparison of standard-dose CT enterography and 50 % reduced-dose CT enterography with and without noise reduction for evaluating Crohn disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol 197:50–57

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. May MS, Wust W, Brand M et al (2011) Dose reduction in abdominal computed tomography: intraindividual comparison of image quality of full-dose standard and half-dose iterative reconstructions with dual-source computed tomography. Invest Radiol 46:465–470

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Park EA, Lee W, Kim KW et al (2012) Iterative reconstruction of dual-source coronary CT angiography: assessment of image quality and radiation dose. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 28:1775–1786

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Pontana F, Pagniez J, Flohr T et al (2011) Chest computed tomography using iterative reconstruction vs filtered back projection (Part 1): evaluation of image noise reduction in 32 patients. Eur Radiol 21:627–635

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Renker M, Ramachandra A, Schoepf UJ et al (2011) Iterative image reconstruction techniques: applications for cardiac CT. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 5:225–230

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Renker M, Nance JW Jr, Schoepf UJ et al (2011) Evaluation of heavily calcified vessels with coronary CT angiography: comparison of iterative and filtered back projection image reconstruction. Radiology 260:390–399

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Schindera ST, Diedrichsen L, Muller HC et al (2011) Iterative reconstruction algorithm for abdominal multidetector CT at different tube voltages: assessment of diagnostic accuracy, image quality, and radiation dose in a phantom study. Radiology 260:454–462

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Computed Tomography (1999) Report EUR 16262. Brussels, Belgium: European Commission

  51. Mayo JR, Aldrich J, Muller NL (2003) Radiation exposure at chest CT: a statement of the Fleischner Society. Radiology 228:15–21

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Cornfeld D, Israel G, Detroy E, Bokhari J, Mojibian H (2011) Impact of Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASIR) on radiation dose and image quality in aortic dissection studies: a qualitative and quantitative analysis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 196:W336–W340

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Flicek KT, Hara AK, Silva AC, Wu Q, Peter MB, Johnson CD (2010) Reducing the radiation dose for CT colonography using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction: a pilot study. AJR Am J Roentgenol 195:126–131

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Gosling O, Loader R, Venables P et al (2010) A comparison of radiation doses between state-of-the-art multislice CT coronary angiography with iterative reconstruction, multislice CT coronary angiography with standard filtered back-projection and invasive diagnostic coronary angiography. Heart 96:922–926

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Honda O, Yanagawa M, Inoue A et al (2011) Image quality of multiplanar reconstruction of pulmonary CT scans using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction. Br J Radiol 84:335–341

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Kambadakone AR, Chaudhary NA, Desai GS, Nguyen DD, Kulkarni NM, Sahani DV (2011) Low-dose MDCT and CT enterography of patients with Crohn disease: feasibility of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction. AJR Am J Roentgenol 196:W743–W752

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Kilic K, Erbas G, Guryildirim M, Arac M, Ilgit E, Coskun B (2011) Lowering the dose in head CT using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 32:1578–1582

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Leipsic J, Labounty TM, Heilbron B et al (2010) Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction: assessment of image noise and image quality in coronary CT angiography. AJR Am J Roentgenol 195:649–654

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Leipsic J, Nguyen G, Brown J, Sin D, Mayo JR (2010) A prospective evaluation of dose reduction and image quality in chest CT using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction. AJR Am J Roentgenol 195:1095–1099

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Marin D, Nelson RC, Schindera ST et al (2010) Low-tube-voltage, high-tube-current multidetector abdominal CT: improved image quality and decreased radiation dose with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction algorithm—initial clinical experience. Radiology 254:145–153

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Martinsen AC, Saether HK, Hol PK, Olsen DR, Skaane P (2011) Iterative reconstruction reduces abdominal CT dose. Eur J Radiol 81:1483–1487

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Matsuda I, Hanaoka S, Akahane M et al (2010) Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction for volume-rendered computed tomography portovenography: improvement of image quality. Jpn J Radiol 28:700–706

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Mieville FA, Gudinchet F, Rizzo E et al (2011) Paediatric cardiac CT examinations: impact of the iterative reconstruction method ASIR on image quality—preliminary findings. Pediatr Radiol 41:1154–1164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Min JK, Swaminathan RV, Vass M, Gallagher S, Weinsaft JW (2009) High-definition multidetector computed tomography for evaluation of coronary artery stents: comparison to standard-definition 64-detector row computed tomography. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 3:246–251

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Mitsumori LM, Shuman WP, Busey JM, Kolokythas O, Koprowicz KM (2012) Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction versus filtered back projection in the same patient: 64 channel liver CT image quality and patient radiation dose. Eur Radiol 22:138–143

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Mueck FG, Korner M, Scherr MK et al (2011) Upgrade to Iterative Image Reconstruction (IR) in abdominal MDCT imaging: a clinical study for detailed parameter optimization beyond vendor recommendations using the Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction Environment (ASIR). Rofo 184:229–238

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Prakash P, Kalra MK, Ackman JB et al (2010) Diffuse lung disease: CT of the chest with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique. Radiology 256:261–269

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Prakash P, Kalra MK, Kambadakone AK et al (2010) Reducing abdominal CT radiation dose with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique. Invest Radiol 45:202–210

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Rapalino O, Kamalian S, Payabvash S et al (2012) Cranial CT with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction: improved image quality with concomitant radiation dose reduction. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 33:609–615

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Singh S, Kalra MK, Hsieh J et al (2010) Abdominal CT: comparison of adaptive statistical iterative and filtered back projection reconstruction techniques. Radiology 257:373–383

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Vorona GA, Ceschin RC, Clayton BL, Sutcavage T, Tadros SS, Panigrahy A (2011) Reducing abdominal CT radiation dose with the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique in children: a feasibility study. Pediatr Radiol 41:1174–1182

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Yanagawa M, Honda O, Yoshida S et al (2010) Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique for pulmonary CT: image quality of the cadaveric lung on standard- and reduced-dose CT. Acad Radiol 17:1259–1266

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Habets J, Symersky P, de Mol BA, Mali WP, Leiner T, Budde RP (2012) A novel iterative reconstruction algorithm allows reduced dose multidetector-row CT imaging of mechanical prosthetic heart valves. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 28:1567–1575

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Utsunomiya D, Weigold WG, Weissman G, Taylor AJ (2012) Effect of hybrid iterative reconstruction technique on quantitative and qualitative image analysis at 256-slice prospective gating cardiac CT. Eur Radiol 22:1287–1294

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Beister M, Kolditz D, Kalender WA (2012) Iterative reconstruction methods in X-ray CT. Phys Med 28:94–108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Roy Irwan, PhD (Toshiba Medical Systems), Alain Vlassenbroek, PhD (Philips Healthcare), Raymond Ubaghs (GE Healthcare), and Michiel de Bruijn (Siemens Medical Solutions) for reviewing the IR algorithm paragraphs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Utrecht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 85500, E01.132, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Martin J. Willemink, Pim A. de Jong, Tim Leiner, Rutger A. J. Nievelstein, Ricardo P. J. Budde & Arnold M. R. Schilham

  2. Cardiothoracic Surgery, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Linda M. de Heer

  3. Department of Radiology, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

    Ricardo P. J. Budde

Authors
  1. Martin J. Willemink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pim A. de Jong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tim Leiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. Linda M. de Heer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rutger A. J. Nievelstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ricardo P. J. Budde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  7. Arnold M. R. Schilham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin J. Willemink.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Willemink, M.J., de Jong, P.A., Leiner, T. et al. Iterative reconstruction techniques for computed tomography Part 1: Technical principles. Eur Radiol 23, 1623–1631 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2765-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2765-y

Keywords