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CTSim: a numerical simulator of computed tomography for high-quality radiological education

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International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Computer-based simulation offers radiological students the possibility to experiment with computed tomography in a way not possible in class or in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to design a computed tomography numerical simulator (CTSim) for high-quality radiological education.

Methods

In this study, a CTSim is designed based on the mathematical and physical principles of CT imaging. The proposed CTSim includes pen-beam module, fan-beam module, and clinical CT module. The core design of the software includes four parts: the construction of sample models, construction of imaging parameters and artifact parameters, design of data acquisition models under different scanning modes, and design of image reconstruction algorithm. After the design of the CTSim, the proposed CTSim was tested in every step of CT imaging.

Results

Systematic verification demonstrated that the proposed CTSim can not only perform raw CT data acquisition, image reconstruction, basic image processing, and image quality analysis like a real CT scanner, but can also simulate the formation of artifacts. The CTSim can completely get rid of the hardware and achieve the same experimental results as the hardware instrument.

Conclusion

The proposed CTSim software shows several advantages such as low cost, less room accommodation, and no ionizing radiation damage and can be used as a virtual experimental training platform to enhance teaching and learning for general X-ray CT courses or for self-study of CT practitioners.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2017MH078) and Medicine and Health Science Development Plan of Shandong Province (202009040008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271016, China

    Lemin He, Weizhao Lu, Shigang Wang & Mei Xue

  2. Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China

    Weizhao Lu

  3. School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China

    Zhihong Wang

Authors
  1. Lemin He
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  2. Weizhao Lu
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  3. Zhihong Wang
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  4. Shigang Wang
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  5. Mei Xue
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mei Xue.

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He, L., Lu, W., Wang, Z. et al. CTSim: a numerical simulator of computed tomography for high-quality radiological education. Int J CARS 17, 1257–1269 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-022-02656-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-022-02656-6

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