The Role of Iterative Reconstruction Techniques in Cardiovascular CT

Iterative reconstruction (IR) techniques for cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) have enjoyed a resurgence of interest in recent years as computer power has increased enough to enable reasonably timely reconstructions. The major purported benefit of current IR techniques involves image noise reduction, which both provides improved image quality and enables radiation dose reductions. Several widely available products have been released by the major CT vendors that vary in their underlying techniques but, according to the current literature, give similar results. Future algorithms should both refine current IR techniques and expand the role of IR to additional cardiovascular CT applications. This review examines the technical basis of IR, the IR products available commercially, the current data on IR in cardiovascular CT, and the future directions of the field.