Feasibility of Ultra-High Resolution Supra-Aortic CT Angiography: An Assessment of Diagnostic Image Quality and Radiation Dose
(1) <i>Background</i>: To evaluate diagnostic image quality and radiation exposure of ultra-high resolution cerebral Computed-Tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) obtained on an ultra-high resolution computed tomography scanner (UHR-CT). (2) <i>Methods</i>: Fifty consecutive pat...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Tomography |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/7/4/59 |
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| author | Felix Anton Ucar Marius Frenzel Mario Alberto Abello Mercado Sebastian Altmann Sebastian Reder Carolin Brockmann Marc A Brockmann Ahmed E Othman |
| author_facet | Felix Anton Ucar Marius Frenzel Mario Alberto Abello Mercado Sebastian Altmann Sebastian Reder Carolin Brockmann Marc A Brockmann Ahmed E Othman |
| author_sort | Felix Anton Ucar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) <i>Background</i>: To evaluate diagnostic image quality and radiation exposure of ultra-high resolution cerebral Computed-Tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) obtained on an ultra-high resolution computed tomography scanner (UHR-CT). (2) <i>Methods</i>: Fifty consecutive patients with UHR-CTA were enrolled. Image reconstruction was processed with a 1024 × 1024 matrix and a slice thickness of 0.25 mm. Quantitative analyses comprising CT values, contrast–noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were performed. Subjective assessment of image quality, vessel contrast, noise, artefacts and delineation of different sized vessels were assessed by two readers on a 4-point scale. Radiation exposure was determined. (3) <i>Results</i>: Hounsfield values (ACI: 461.8 ± 16.8 HU; MCA: 406.1 ± 24.2 HU; BA: 412.2 ± 22.3 HU), SNR (ACI: 35.4 ± 13.1; MCA: 20.8 ± 12.4; BA: 23.7 ± 12.9) and CNR (ACI: 48.7 ± 21; MCA: 63.9 ± 26.9; BA: 48.1 ± 21.4) were remarkably high in all segments. Subjective analysis by two raters (fair agreement, k = 0.26) indicated excellent image qualities (image quality = 4; contrast = 4; noise = 3; artefacts = 4).Our analysis revealed a notably high traceability of the cerebral perforators (3 Points). Radiation exposure was at moderate dose levels (effective dose = 2.5 ± 0.6mSv). (4) <i>Conclusions</i>: UHR-CTA generates highly valuable image qualities that allow the depiction of vessels including cerebral perforators at acceptable dose levels. The UHR-CTA may therefore enhance the detection of small cerebral pathologies and may improve interpretability, especially in settings where high image qualities are crucial for the diagnostic accuracy. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2379-1381 2379-139X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:59:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tomography |
| spelling | doaj.art-68a0955495924a70b7e4e26438453b2a2023-11-23T10:49:08ZengMDPI AGTomography2379-13812379-139X2021-11-017471172010.3390/tomography7040059Feasibility of Ultra-High Resolution Supra-Aortic CT Angiography: An Assessment of Diagnostic Image Quality and Radiation DoseFelix Anton Ucar0Marius Frenzel1Mario Alberto Abello Mercado2Sebastian Altmann3Sebastian Reder4Carolin Brockmann5Marc A Brockmann6Ahmed E Othman7Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, Germany(1) <i>Background</i>: To evaluate diagnostic image quality and radiation exposure of ultra-high resolution cerebral Computed-Tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) obtained on an ultra-high resolution computed tomography scanner (UHR-CT). (2) <i>Methods</i>: Fifty consecutive patients with UHR-CTA were enrolled. Image reconstruction was processed with a 1024 × 1024 matrix and a slice thickness of 0.25 mm. Quantitative analyses comprising CT values, contrast–noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were performed. Subjective assessment of image quality, vessel contrast, noise, artefacts and delineation of different sized vessels were assessed by two readers on a 4-point scale. Radiation exposure was determined. (3) <i>Results</i>: Hounsfield values (ACI: 461.8 ± 16.8 HU; MCA: 406.1 ± 24.2 HU; BA: 412.2 ± 22.3 HU), SNR (ACI: 35.4 ± 13.1; MCA: 20.8 ± 12.4; BA: 23.7 ± 12.9) and CNR (ACI: 48.7 ± 21; MCA: 63.9 ± 26.9; BA: 48.1 ± 21.4) were remarkably high in all segments. Subjective analysis by two raters (fair agreement, k = 0.26) indicated excellent image qualities (image quality = 4; contrast = 4; noise = 3; artefacts = 4).Our analysis revealed a notably high traceability of the cerebral perforators (3 Points). Radiation exposure was at moderate dose levels (effective dose = 2.5 ± 0.6mSv). (4) <i>Conclusions</i>: UHR-CTA generates highly valuable image qualities that allow the depiction of vessels including cerebral perforators at acceptable dose levels. The UHR-CTA may therefore enhance the detection of small cerebral pathologies and may improve interpretability, especially in settings where high image qualities are crucial for the diagnostic accuracy.https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/7/4/59computed tomographycomputed tomography angiographycerebral arteriesstrokecontrast mediaimage enhancement |
| spellingShingle | Felix Anton Ucar Marius Frenzel Mario Alberto Abello Mercado Sebastian Altmann Sebastian Reder Carolin Brockmann Marc A Brockmann Ahmed E Othman Feasibility of Ultra-High Resolution Supra-Aortic CT Angiography: An Assessment of Diagnostic Image Quality and Radiation Dose Tomography computed tomography computed tomography angiography cerebral arteries stroke contrast media image enhancement |
| title | Feasibility of Ultra-High Resolution Supra-Aortic CT Angiography: An Assessment of Diagnostic Image Quality and Radiation Dose |
| title_full | Feasibility of Ultra-High Resolution Supra-Aortic CT Angiography: An Assessment of Diagnostic Image Quality and Radiation Dose |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of Ultra-High Resolution Supra-Aortic CT Angiography: An Assessment of Diagnostic Image Quality and Radiation Dose |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of Ultra-High Resolution Supra-Aortic CT Angiography: An Assessment of Diagnostic Image Quality and Radiation Dose |
| title_short | Feasibility of Ultra-High Resolution Supra-Aortic CT Angiography: An Assessment of Diagnostic Image Quality and Radiation Dose |
| title_sort | feasibility of ultra high resolution supra aortic ct angiography an assessment of diagnostic image quality and radiation dose |
| topic | computed tomography computed tomography angiography cerebral arteries stroke contrast media image enhancement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/7/4/59 |
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