Feasibility of fast non local means filter in pediatric chest x-ray for increasing of pulmonary nodule detectability with 3D printed lung nodule phantom

General x-ray images have a lower probability of nodule detection than other modalities. Especially
in children, the probability of nodule detection can likely drop due to poor image quality from
using low radiation dose. To demonstrate the effectiveness of fast non-local means (FNLM) filter to
increase the probability of nodule detection in pediatric chest x-ray images and reduce radiation
dose while maintaining image quality. Quantitative assessment of normalised noise power spectrum
(NNPS), coefficient of variation (COV) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were performed after
applying four filters (median, Wiener, total variation and FNLM) on a 1-year-old child phantom. A
3D-printed patient nodule phantom was inserted into the phantom. Assessment was performed on AP and
LAT view images acquired with the tube voltage reduced to 38 and 27%, and tube current reduced to 84
and 61%, respectively. The results showed the lowest NNPS and COV values and the highest CNR value
when the F...

Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - August 5, 2019 Category: Physics Authors: Jina Shim, Myonggeun Yoon and Youngjin Lee Source Type: research