Evaluation of the image quality and dose reduction in digital radiography with an advanced spatial noise reduction algorithm in pediatric patients

Objectives To evaluate whether the advanced spatial noise reduction (ASNR) algorithm installed in a digital radiography system generates acceptable images at a lower dose than a conventional denoising algorithm in pediatric patients. Methods Nine sets of 30 images of pediatric patients, classified under three protocols and three age groups, were retrospectively selected. Different levels of low-dose image sets of these 270 images were generated by a noise simulation tool after validation testing using phantoms. Each image set was obtained with both the ASNR and conventional algorithm, and grouped randomly and blinded. Three experienced pediatric radiologists were asked to pick the “image with optimum dose” among images of different dose levels with an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) perspective. Dose reduction rates for each protocol and age group were calculated, and entrance skin exposure (ESE) was calculated using the values of kVp and mAs, assuming a standard body depth for each age group. Results With the ASNR algorithm, estimated dose reduction rates were highest for abdominal radiographs (45.0%, 27.3%, and 24.3% in infants, children, and adolescents, respectively, p < 0.001). The mean dose reductions for all age groups in the abdominal, chest, and skull radiographs were 32.8%, 12.9%, and 23.2%, respectively ( p < 0.001). Average of the calculated ESE was lower with the ASNR algorithm than with the conventional algorithm group ( p < 0.001). Conclusions The ASNR algorithm facilitated optimization of image quality with a higher reduction in radiation dose than the conventional algorithm, making it more acceptable for use in pediatric patients. Key Points •ASNR algorithm in DR system improves image quality via enhanced contrast and noise removal by estimating actual noise distribution based on a multi-scale noise covariance and frequency processing. •Noise simulation tool (NST) generating images of different dose levels can be used for evaluation of the optimum dose without unnecessary additional radiation exposure to pediatric patients. •Retrospective clinical study using NST showed that the ASNR algorithm enabled a higher reduction in radiation dose than the conventional algorithm in pediatric patients.