The CT number accuracy of a novel commercial metal artifact reduction algorithm for large orthopedic implants

Philips Healthcare released a novel metal artifact reduction algorithm for large orthopedic implants (O‐MAR). Little information was available about its CT number accuracy. Since CT numbers are used for tissue heterogeneity corrections in external beam radiotherapy treatment planning, we performed a phantom study to assess the CT number accuracy of O‐MAR. Two situations were simulated: a patient with a unilateral metallic hip prosthesis and a patient with bilateral metallic hip prostheses. We compared the CT numbers in the O‐MAR reconstructions of the simulations to those in the nonO‐MAR reconstruction and to those in a metal‐free baseline reconstruction. In both simulations, the CT number accuracy of the O‐MAR reconstruction was better than the CT number accuracy of the nonO‐MAR reconstruction. In the O‐MAR reconstruction of the unilateral simulation, all CT numbers were accurate within ±5HU (AAPM criterion). In the O‐MAR reconstruction of the bilateral simulation, CT numbers were found that differed more than ±5HU from the metal‐free baseline values. However, none of these differences were clinically relevant. PACS numbers: 87.57.Q‐, 87.57.cp