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GE Healthcare has just introduced in Canada the Veo, a new low-dose CT image reconstruction technology. Veo uses a model of the scanning system itself to improve image quality. As was apparent during last year’s RSNA, CT radiation dose reduction while maintaining or improving image quality is a hot topic with CT manufacturers. For decades, the standard CT image reconstruction algorithm has been filtered back projection, which uses mathematical methods to reconstruct tomographic images from the projections that are obtained by the circling detectors. More recently, a new reconstruction algorithm, adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), has been introduced that performs modeling of the noise distribution, cutting radiation dose by up to 80% for many applications.
Model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR), employed by Veo, goes a step further by incorporating a physical model of the CT system into the reconstruction process to characterize the data acquisition phase, including noise, beam hardening, and scatter. It has the potential to cut radiation doses even more but is computationally more demanding, leading to longer reconstruction times (which will gradually become less of a problem with ever increasing computing power). It may potentially deliver lower noise, increased resolution, improved low contrast detectability and fewer artifacts. Veo is available on the GE Discovery CT750 HD system, and is suitable for use throughout the body. Veo is already available in Europe and much of Asia, and is still awaiting FDA clearance.