Metal artifact production and reduction in CBCT with different numbers of basis images.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of different numbers of basis images and the use of metal artifact reduction (MAR) on the production and reduction of artifacts in cone-beam computed tomography images.

Materials and Methods: An acrylic resin phantom with a metal alloy sample was scanned, with 450 or 720 basis images and with or without MAR. Standard deviation values for the test areas (around the metal object) were obtained as a way of measuring artifact production. Two-way analysis of variance was used with a 5% significance level.

Results: There was no significant difference in artifact production among the images obtained with different numbers of basis images without MAR ( P =.985). MAR significantly reduced artifact production in the test areas only in the protocol using 720 basis images ( P =.017). The protocol using 450 basis images with MAR showed no significant difference in artifact production when compared to the protocol using 720 basis images with MAR ( P =.579).

Conclusion: Protocols with a smaller number of basis images and with MAR activated are preferable for minimizing artifact production in tomographic images without exposing the patient to a greater radiation dose.