From Data Completeness to Data Sufficiency: A Task-Driven Imaging Framework for Intraoperative CBCT under Quality-Time-Dose Trade-offs

2026-07-08

AI Summary

This study addresses the limitations of conventional intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), which adheres to circular-orbit geometry and strives for mathematically complete data acquisition despite its inherent incompleteness, often neglecting the trade-offs among image quality, scan time, and radiation dose. The authors propose replacing the notion of “data completeness” with “data sufficiency,” defined by task-specific clinical requirements and a minimum acceptable image quality threshold. Within this framework, an optimal balance among quality, time, and dose (Q-T-D) is achieved under tolerable approximation error. By integrating geometric analysis, task-driven modeling, and multi-scenario validation, this work pioneers a paradigm shift in intraoperative CBCT evaluation—from mathematical completeness to task-oriented sufficiency—thereby transcending traditional sampling constraints and establishing a novel imaging framework tailored to clinical decision-making, validated across diverse surgical scenarios.

Abstract

Mobile C-arm cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been widely used for real-time intraoperative 3D imaging. However, current practice often mechanically applies the fan-beam CT criterion of "180° plus fan angle" in pursuit of "data completeness" in reconstruction. This review argues that, under the single circular trajectory of three-dimensional cone-beam geometry, complete data are mathematically unattainable; moreover, blindly increasing sampling may exacerbate the trade-off among intraoperative image quality (Q), imaging time (T), and radiation dose (D). Against this background, this review reframes the evaluation of intraoperative CBCT around "data sufficiency" rather than "data completeness." This perspective moves beyond the excessive pursuit of absolute mathematical and analytic accuracy, and instead emphasizes task-specific minimum image-quality thresholds required for clinical decision-making. By synthesizing evidence from multiple clinical scenarios, this review suggests that approximation errors can be acceptable when clinical decision-making requirements are satisfied, thereby achieving a Q-T-D balance.

Problem

• data sufficiency
• intraoperative CBCT
• quality-time-dose trade-off
• data completeness
• task-driven imaging

Innovation

• data sufficiency
• task-driven imaging
• intraoperative CBCT
• quality-time-dose trade-off
• cone-beam CT