Robustness of radiomic features in photon-counting CT: Impact of radiation dose and virtual monoenergetic reconstructions compared to dual-energy CT

IF 3.2 3区医学 Q1 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

European Journal of Radiology Pub Date : 2025-06-17 DOI:10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112257

Haijia Mao , Tianhao Feng , Sangying Lv , Dingbo Shu , Fandong Zhu , Jianfeng Yang , Zhenhua Zhao

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of Virtual Monoenergetic Image (VMI) reconstructions and radiation dose on radiomic feature reproducibility in photon-counting CT (PCCT) and compare its performance with dual-energy CT (DE-CT).

Methods

An anthropomorphic abdominal phantom (Kyoto Kagaku CTU-41) simulating liver, kidney, and vertebral tissues was scanned on a PCCT system at four dose levels (1, 3, 6, 12 mGy) with VMI reconstructions (40–100 keV). DE-CT acquisitions (80/140 kVp) at matched doses served as the comparator. Radiomic features were extracted from standardized ROIs using PyRadiomics. Reproducibility was quantified via intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and coefficient of variation (CV < 10 %).

Results

Demonstrated exceptional reproducibility across all doses (ICC/CCC > 0.96) for liver, with peak stability at 6 mGy (ICC = 0.992, CCC = 0.998) and 44.75 % of features achieving CV ≤ 10 %. Kidneys exhibited inverse dose-reproducibility relationships, with optimal stability at 1 mGy (ICC = 0.783, CCC = 0.858). Vertebrae achieved superior reproducibility at 12 mGy (ICC = 0.631, CCC = 0.859), while 1 mGy and 3 mGy showed lower agreement (ICC < 0.60) due to partial volume effects. Liver radiomics showed superior reproducibility at 70–80 keV (ICC/CCC ≈1.00) and low variability (CV＞20 %: 35.24–38.10 %). For Kidneys, high consistency was achieved at 70–80 keV (ICC＞0.993, CCC＞0.997) and persistent variability (CV＞20 %: 52.38–68.57 %).

Conclusion

PCCT enables robust radiomics for homogeneous tissues (liver) across all doses, while heterogeneous regions (kidney, vertebrae) require energy- and dose-optimized protocols. The inverse dose-reproducibility relationship in renal radiomics highlights PCCT’s unique spectral advantages for low-dose imaging. These findings advocate for clinical adoption of PCCT with protocol standardization to unlock reliable, dose-efficient radiomic biomarkers.

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光子计数CT放射学特征的鲁棒性：与双能CT相比，辐射剂量和虚拟单能重建的影响

目的评价虚拟单能像（VMI）重建和辐射剂量对光子计数CT （PCCT）放射学特征再现性的影响，并与双能CT （DE-CT）进行比较。方法在PCCT系统上以4种剂量（1,3,6,12 mGy）扫描模拟肝脏、肾脏和椎体组织的拟人腹部幻影（Kyoto Kagaku CTU-41），并进行VMI重建（40-100 keV）。匹配剂量的DE-CT采集（80/140 kVp）作为比较物。使用PyRadiomics从标准化roi中提取放射组特征。通过类内相关系数（ICC）、一致性相关系数（CCC）和变异系数(CV <；10%)。结果在所有剂量(ICC/CCC >；0.96)，峰值稳定在6 mGy (ICC = 0.992, CCC = 0.998)， 44.75%的特征CV≤10%。肾脏表现出相反的剂量-重复性关系，在1 mGy时具有最佳稳定性（ICC = 0.783, CCC = 0.858）。椎骨在12 mGy时具有较好的重复性（ICC = 0.631, CCC = 0.859），而1 mGy和3 mGy时一致性较低(ICC <；0.60)由于部分体积效应。肝脏放射组学在70-80 keV （ICC/CCC≈1.00）条件下具有良好的再现性和低变异性（CV> 20%: 35.24 - 38.10%）。对于肾脏，在70-80 keV （ICC>0.993， CCC>0.997）和持续变异性（CV> 20%: 52.38 - 68.57%）下实现了高度一致性。结论：pcct能够在所有剂量下对均匀组织（肝脏）进行稳健的放射组学检测，而非均匀区域（肾脏、椎骨）则需要能量和剂量优化方案。肾放射组学的反向剂量-可重复性关系突出了PCCT在低剂量成像中的独特光谱优势。这些发现提倡临床采用PCCT和标准化方案，以解锁可靠的、剂量有效的放射学生物标志物。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Radiology 医学-核医学

CiteScore

6.70

自引率

3.00%

发文量

398

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： European Journal of Radiology is an international journal which aims to communicate to its readers, state-of-the-art information on imaging developments in the form of high quality original research articles and timely reviews on current developments in the field. Its audience includes clinicians at all levels of training including radiology trainees, newly qualified imaging specialists and the experienced radiologist. Its aim is to inform efficient, appropriate and evidence-based imaging practice to the benefit of patients worldwide.