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Radiation dose reduction with frame rate conversion in X-ray fluoroscopic imaging systems with flat panel detector: basic study and clinical retrospective analysis

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Abstract

Objectives

To (a) evaluate the interpolation frames of frame rate conversion (FRC) compared with fluoroscopic frames of conventional method, and (b) compare radiation dose and fluoroscopy time between various clinical examinations without and with FRC retrospectively.

Methods

This study consisted of a basic study and a clinical retrospective analysis. The radiation dosimetry, visual assessment and measurements of contrast to noise ratio were examined. Similarity between interpolation frames and fluoroscopic frames was evaluated using normalised cross-correlation values. In the clinical retrospective analysis approved by the institutional review board, we extracted 270 examinations performed without FRC (conventional group, 12.5 pulses/s) and with FRC (FRC group, 6.25 pulses/s) from 23 May to 31 December 2016. The fluoroscopy parameters and demographics of the two groups of the clinical examinations were compared. Statistical analyses were performed with Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Brunner–Munzel test and χ2 test.

Results

In the basic study, the only significant difference was that the radiation dose of FRC was approximately half that of the conventional method in the same fluoroscopy time (p = .031). The interpolation frames of FRC were similar to the fluoroscopic frames of the conventional method. In the clinical retrospective analysis, the only significant difference was that FRC reduced the fluoroscopy dose by 48% and the total dose by 31% compared with the conventional method (p < .001). There was no significant difference in the others.

Conclusion

FRC significantly reduced the radiation dose without extending the fluoroscopy time and maintaining the image quality compared to the conventional method.

Key Points

• Although X-ray fluoroscopic techniques are widely used for various clinical purposes, X-ray fluoroscopic examinations have radiation risks.

• Frame rate conversion is an image processing technique for radiation dose reduction.

• Clinical retrospective analysis showed that FRC reduces radiation doses of patients.

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Abbreviations

CNR:

Contrast to noise ratio

DAP:

Dose area product

FPD:

Flat panel detector

FRC:

Frame rate conversion

NCC:

Normalised cross-correlation

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Acknowledgements

In our basic study, the image reconstruction from the raw data which includes no clinical information was supported by Hitachi Ltd. Healthcare Business Unit.

Funding

This work was partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid from JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) KAKENHI JP Scientific Research (C) Grant Number 15K08692.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, The University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Noriyuki Sakai, Katsuyuki Tabei, Jiro Sato, Toshikazu Imae, Yuichi Suzuki, Shigeharu Takenaka, Keiichi Yano & Osamu Abe

Authors
  1. Noriyuki Sakai
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  2. Katsuyuki Tabei
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  3. Jiro Sato
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  4. Toshikazu Imae
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  5. Yuichi Suzuki
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  7. Keiichi Yano
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  8. Osamu Abe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Noriyuki Sakai.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Noriyuki Sakai.

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

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.

Methodology

• retrospective

• observational and experimental

• performed at one institution

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Sakai, N., Tabei, K., Sato, J. et al. Radiation dose reduction with frame rate conversion in X-ray fluoroscopic imaging systems with flat panel detector: basic study and clinical retrospective analysis. Eur Radiol 29, 985–992 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5620-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5620-y

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