Simulation study about the accuracy of advanced airway geometry determination on MDCT using a computer-generated phantom

Purpose: We developed a computer-generated phantom simulating cross sections of airways with different inner diameters (1.2 – 18.0 mm) and wall thicknesses (0.3 – 1.5 mm) for the examination of the accuracy of our input parameter-free integral-based method (IBMpf) for airway geometry determination. Methods and Materials: We varied the simulated parenchyma density outside the airways (-250/-500 HU) and down-sampled image resolution from original 0.0375 mm to average clinical resolution (0.3/0.6 mm) by pixel binning. Overall point spread function of a MDCT system was simulated by a Gaussian kernel (SD: 0.0 – 0.6 m…