Improving the Visualization of the Adrenal Veins Using Virtual Monoenergetic Images from Dual-Energy Computed Tomography before Adrenal Venous Sampling
(1) Background: This study explored the optimal energy level in advanced virtual monoenergetic images (VMI+) from dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) for adrenal veins visualization before adrenal venous sampling (AVS). (2) Methods: Thirty-nine patients were included in this prospec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Tomography |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/9/2/40 |
| Summary: | (1) Background: This study explored the optimal energy level in advanced virtual monoenergetic images (VMI+) from dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) for adrenal veins visualization before adrenal venous sampling (AVS). (2) Methods: Thirty-nine patients were included in this prospective single-center study. The CT value, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured in both adrenal veins and abdominal solid organs and were then compared between VMI+ within the range of 40–80 kiloelectron volt (keV). The visualization rate of the adrenal veins and the overall image quality of solid organs were subjectively compared among different keV VMI+. The AVS success rate was recorded for 20 patients. (3) Results: For the adrenal veins, 40 keV VMI+ had the peak CT value, noise and CNR (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Subjectively, the visualization rate was the highest at 40 keV (100% for the right adrenal vein, and 97.4% for the left adrenal vein) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). For solid organs, the CT value, noise and CNR at 50 keV were lower than those at 40 keV (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but the SNR was similar between 40 keV and 50 keV. The overall subjective image quality of solid organs at 50 keV was the best (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The AVS success rate was 95%. (4) Conclusions: For VMI+, 40 keV was the preferential energy level to obtain a high visualization rate of the adrenal veins and a high success rate of AVS, while 50 keV was the favorable energy level for the depiction of abdominal organs. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2379-1381 2379-139X |