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CT reconstruction algorithms affect histogram and texture analysis: evidence for liver parenchyma, focal solid liver lesions, and renal cysts

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine the effects of different reconstruction algorithms on histogram and texture features in different targets.

Materials and methods

Among 3620 patients, 480 had normal liver parenchyma, 494 had focal solid liver lesions (metastases = 259; hepatocellular carcinoma = 99; hemangioma = 78; abscess = 32; and cholangiocarcinoma = 26), and 488 had renal cysts. CT images were reconstructed with filtered back-projection (FBP), hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR), and iterative model reconstruction (IMR) algorithms. Computerized histogram and texture analyses were performed by extracting 11 features.

Results

Different reconstruction algorithms had distinct, significant effects. IMR had a greater effect than HIR. For instance, IMR had a significant effect on five features of liver parenchyma, nine features of focal liver lesions, and four features of renal cysts on portal-phase scans and four, eight, and four features, respectively, on precontrast scans (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, different algorithms had a greater effect on focal liver lesions (six in HIR and nine in IMR on portal-phase, three in HIR, and eight in IMR on precontrast scans) than on liver parenchyma or cysts. The mean attenuation and standard deviation were not affected by the reconstruction algorithm (p > .05). Most parameters showed good or excellent intra- and interobserver agreement, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.634 to 0.972.

Conclusions

Different reconstruction algorithms affect histogram and texture features. Reconstruction algorithms showed stronger effects in focal liver lesions than in liver parenchyma or renal cysts.

Key Points

• Imaging heterogeneities influenced the quantification of image features.

• Different reconstruction algorithms had a significant effect on histogram and texture features.

• Solid liver lesions were more affected than liver parenchyma or cysts.

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Abbreviations

ASM:

Angular second moment

FBP:

Filtered back-projection

GLCM:

Gray level co-occurrence matrix

HIR:

Hybrid iterative reconstruction

ICC:

Intraclass correlation coefficient

IDM:

Inverse difference moment

IMR:

Iterative model reconstruction

PACS:

Picture archiving and communications system

ROI:

Region of interest

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Acknowledgments

We thank Bonnie Hami, M.A. (USA), for her editorial assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea

    Su Joa Ahn, Jung Hoon Kim, Sang Joon Park & Joon Koo Han

  2. Department of Radiology and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehang-no, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea

    Jung Hoon Kim & Joon Koo Han

  3. Department of Radiology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, 22, Gwanpyeong-ro 170beon-gil, Anyang-si, 431-796, Korea

    Sang Min Lee

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  1. Su Joa Ahn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jung Hoon Kim.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Joon Koo Han, M.D.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

Su Joa Ahn, MD, has significant statistical expertise and no complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained (IRB No. 1706–128-861).

Methodology

• Retrospective

• Diagnostic or prognostic study

• Performed at one institution

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Ahn, S.J., Kim, J.H., Lee, S.M. et al. CT reconstruction algorithms affect histogram and texture analysis: evidence for liver parenchyma, focal solid liver lesions, and renal cysts. Eur Radiol 29, 4008–4015 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5829-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5829-9

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