DER-GAN: Dual-Energy Recovery GAN for Conebeam CT

Dual-energy cone-beam computed tomography (DE-CBCT) integrates dual-energy imaging seamlessly into the CBCT system, offering a practical solution for real-time clinical applications in treatment rooms. Traditional DE-CBCT systems often rely on intricate hardware or dual scanning, imposing significant constraints on the broader application of dual-energy CT (DECT) in CBCT machines. In this study, we introduce an innovative GAN-based single-scan dual-energy CBCT reconstruction strategy designed for DE-CBCT systems, effectively reducing acquisition time compared to conventional two-scan DE-CBCT approaches. Our approach leverages a strip-type modulator positioned in front of the detector, enabling the acquisition of spectra-mixed dual-energy projections in a single scan by modulating specific areas on the detector. The obtained incomplete dual-energy projections undergo precise recovery through our designed dual-energy recovery GAN (DER-GAN). DER-GAN adeptly extracts complementary spectra and ensures consistency in anatomical information between high and low-energy projections. Through qualitative and quantitative analyses, DER-GAN demonstrates commendable performance in terms of CT number accuracy and preservation of anatomical details. Furthermore, in the realm of DECT applications, particularly in multi-material decomposition, DER-GAN's reconstructed images exhibit promising potential for clinical CBCT applications. This pioneering approach represents a significant stride toward efficient and practical integration of dual-energy imaging into the CBCT paradigm.