Investigating the effect of thyroid shields and lead glasses on image quality and artefacts in cone beam computed tomography devices: A phantom study

IF 2.5 Q2 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

Radiography Pub Date : 2025-05-16 DOI:10.1016/j.radi.2025.102980

L. Hafezi , A. Aghaz , M.R. Deevband , S. Vaezi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

The objective of this study is to investigate and compare the impact of thyroid shields and lead glasses on the image quality (IQ) and artefacts in dental Cone Beam CT (CBCT) images. The current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this protective equipment in enhancing the quality of dental CBCT images.

Methods

In this study, a New Tom dental CBCT device was used to scan Pro-Project phantom with and without thyroid shields and lead glasses in three different large, medium, and small Fields of View (FOVs). The several key IQ parameters such as noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), homogeneity, contrast-resolution (CR), and spatial-resolution (SR), were evaluated using ImageJ software. The measurements were performed and compared in various cross-sections based on the location of test objects in the phantom.

Results

The study found that the use of thyroid shields and lead glasses resulted in a decrease in CNR and homogeneity parameters, while noise increased. However, there were no significant changes in SR and CR. It should be noted that the use of thyroid shields and lead glasses may increase image noise by 1–7 %. The combined use of lead shields was not included in our findings, as their effects are localized and similar to separate evaluations in adjacent areas in lower and upper sections.

Conclusion

Thyroid shields and lead glasses during dental CBCT imaging increase image noise and reduce CNR. Proper placement is crucial, and reducing the FOV size can minimise artefacts while preserving diagnostic accuracy.

Implications for practice

Thyroid shields and lead glasses are vital for radiation protection. Increased noise demands attention in clinical practice. Ongoing research, training, quality assurance, and effective patient communication are essential for safety and trust in dental imaging.

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研究甲状腺屏蔽和铅眼镜对锥形束计算机断层扫描设备图像质量和伪影的影响：一项幻象研究

本研究的目的是研究和比较甲状腺屏蔽和铅眼镜对牙科锥形束CT （Cone Beam CT， CBCT）图像质量（IQ）和伪影的影响。本研究旨在评估该防护设备在提高牙科CBCT图像质量方面的有效性。方法采用New Tom牙科CBCT装置在大、中、小三种不同视场（fov）下对Pro-Project假体进行扫描。使用ImageJ软件评估IQ的几个关键参数，如噪声、对比噪声比（CNR）、均匀性、对比分辨率（CR）和空间分辨率（SR）。根据测试对象在幻影中的位置，在不同的横截面上进行测量和比较。结果研究发现，使用甲状腺屏蔽和铅玻璃后，声压比和均匀性参数降低，噪声增加。然而，SR和CR没有明显变化。应该注意的是，使用甲状腺屏蔽和铅眼镜可能会使图像噪声增加1 - 7%。我们的研究结果不包括铅屏蔽的联合使用，因为它们的影响是局部的，与上下两个部分相邻区域的单独评估相似。结论在牙科CBCT成像时，甲状腺屏蔽和铅眼镜增加了图像噪声，降低了图像的CNR。适当的放置是至关重要的，减小视场大小可以最大限度地减少伪影，同时保持诊断的准确性。对实际应用的启示甲状腺屏蔽和铅玻璃是至关重要的辐射防护。在临床实践中，噪音的增加需要引起注意。持续的研究、培训、质量保证和有效的患者沟通对于牙科成像的安全和信任至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Radiography RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING-

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

34.60%

发文量

169

审稿时长

63 days

期刊介绍： Radiography is an International, English language, peer-reviewed journal of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy. Radiography is the official professional journal of the College of Radiographers and is published quarterly. Radiography aims to publish the highest quality material, both clinical and scientific, on all aspects of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy and oncology.