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Retrospective Study
©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Radiol. Feb 28, 2026; 18(2): 115249
Published online Feb 28, 2026. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i2.115249
Application of streak metal artifact reduction technique in cone-beam computed tomography guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy
Zhi-Lin Wang, Ge Wu
Zhi-Lin Wang, Ge Wu, Department of Interventional Radiology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Wang ZL contributed to conceptualization, methodology, investigation, data curation, formal analysis, writing, original draft; Wu G contributed to conceptualization, supervision, project administration, resources, validation, writing, review and editing; all authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This investigation was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Sichuan Cancer Hospital, No. KY-2025-293-01.
Informed consent statement: The need for patient consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Data sharing statement: Data is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Ge Wu, PhD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Interventional Radiology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 55 South Renmin Road, Chengdu 610044, Sichuan Province, China. wuge@scszlyy.org.cn
Received: October 15, 2025
Revised: December 24, 2025
Accepted: January 16, 2026
Published online: February 28, 2026
Processing time: 136 Days and 0.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: This retrospective study evaluates the application of streak metal artifact reduction technique (SMART) in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy. SMART iterative reconstruction, particularly in full volume-of-interest mode, significantly reduces radial, streak, and dark stripe artifacts caused by metallic coaxial needles compared to original CBCT images. This technology enables clearer visualization of small lung nodules and critical adjacent anatomical structures, such as blood vessels, which is crucial for accurate puncture path planning. The quantitative improvement in image quality confirms the clinical value of SMART in enhancing the precision and safety of biopsies for small pulmonary lesions.