Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40307592›Full record

ArticleJournal of imaging informatics in medicine2026

Improved Image Quality of Virtual Monochromatic Images with Deep Learning Image Reconstruction Algorithm on Dual-Energy CT in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Keitaro Sofue, Eisuke Ueshima, Yoshiko Ueno, Takeru Yamaguchi, Masatoshi Hori, Takamichi Murakami

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of imaging informatics in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Keitaro SofueDepartment of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan. keitarosofue@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6132-1623
Eisuke UeshimaDepartment of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
Yoshiko UenoDepartment of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
Takeru YamaguchiDepartment of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
Masatoshi HoriDepartment of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
Takamichi MurakamiDepartment of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the image quality of virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) reconstructed with deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) using dual-energy CT (DECT) to diagnose pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Fifty patients with histologically confirmed PDAC who underwent multiphasic contrast-enhanced DECT between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. VMIs at 40-100 keV were reconstructed using hybrid iterative reconstruction (ASiR-V 30% and ASiR-V 50%) and DLIR (TFI-M) algorithms. Quantitative analyses included contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of the major abdominal vessels, liver, pancreas, and the PDAC. Qualitative image quality assessments included image noise, soft-tissue sharpness, vessel contrast, and PDAC conspicuity. Noise power spectrum (NPS) analysis was performed to examine the variance and spatial frequency characteristics of image noise using a phantom. TFI-M significantly improved image quality compared to ASiR-V 30% and ASiR-V 50%, especially at lower keV levels. VMIs with TFI-M showed reduced image noise and higher pancreas-to-tumor CNR at 40 keV. Qualitative evaluations confirmed DLIR's superiority in noise reduction, tissue sharpness, and vessel conspicuity, with substantial interobserver agreement (κ = 0.61-0.78). NPS analysis demonstrated effective noise reduction across spatial frequencies. DLIR significantly improved the image quality of VMIs on DECT by reducing image noise and increasing CNR, particularly at lower keV levels. These improvements may improve PDAC detection and assessment, making it a valuable tool for pancreatic cancer imaging.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Pancreatic DuctalDeep LearningImage Processing, Computer-AssistedPancreatic NeoplasmsRadiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-AssistedRadiography, Dual-Energy Scanned ProjectionTomography, X-Ray ComputedAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAlgorithmsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesDeep learning image reconstructionDual-energy CTPancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaVirtual monochromatic images

Identifiers

PMID40307592
PMCPMC12920970

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.