Addressing signal alterations induced in CT images by deep learning processing: A preliminary phantom study

• Published in: Physica medica 2021-03, Vol.83, p.88-100
• Main Authors: Doria, Sandra, Valeri, Federico, Lasagni, Lorenzo, Sanguineti, Valentina, Ragonesi, Ruggero, Akbar, Muhammad Usman, Gnerucci, Alessio, Del Bue, Alessio, Marconi, Alessandro, Risaliti, Guido, Grigioni, Mauro, Miele, Vittorio, Sona, Diego, Cisbani, Evaristo, Gori, Cesare, Taddeucci, Adriana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial intelligence; Computed tomography; Convolutional neural network; Image quality; Radiomic features
• ISSN: 1120-1797; 1724-191X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.02.022

•An “Ad hoc” phantom is designed and used to collect a large database of CT images.•Convolutional Neural Netwoks (CNNs) for denoise and segmentation tasks are developed.•Quality evaluation of CNNs processing is achieved by conventional and radiomic approaches.•Performances of different multi-tasks CNNs are investigated.•Radiomic features are proposed as indicators of texture alterations induced by CNNs. We investigate, by an extensive quality evaluation approach, performances and potential side effects introduced in Computed Tomography (CT) images by Deep Learning (DL) processing. We selected two relevant processing steps, denoise and segmentation, implemented by two Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) models based on autoencoder architecture (encoder-decoder and UNet) and trained for the two tasks. In order to limit the number of uncontrolled variables, we designed a phantom containing cylindrical inserts of different sizes, filled with iodinated contrast media. A large CT image dataset was collected at different acquisition settings and two reconstruction algorithms. We characterized the CNNs behavior using metrics from the signal detection theory, radiological and conventional image quality parameters, and finally unconventional radiomic features analysis. The UNet, due to the deeper architecture complexity, outperformed the shallower encoder-decoder in terms of conventional quality parameters and preserved spatial resolution. We also studied how the CNNs modify the noise texture by using radiomic analysis, identifying sensitive and insensitive features to the denoise processing. The proposed evaluation approach proved effective to accurately analyze and quantify the differences in CNNs behavior, in particular with regard to the alterations introduced in the processed images. Our results suggest that even a deeper and more complex network, which achieves good performances, is not necessarily a better network because it can modify texture features in an unwanted way.