Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT Angiography
(1) Background: Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT offers a wide variety of kernels and sharpness levels for image reconstruction. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine optimal settings for coronary CT angiography (CCTA). (2) Methods: Thirty patients (eight female, mean age 63 ± 13 yea...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Diagnostics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/11/1937 |
| _version_ | 1797597738528931840 |
|---|---|
| author | Yang Yang Nicola Fink Tilman Emrich Dirk Graafen Rosa Richter Stefanie Bockius Elias V. Wolf Gerald Laux Larissa Kavermann Lukas Müller Michaela Hell Moritz C. Halfmann |
| author_facet | Yang Yang Nicola Fink Tilman Emrich Dirk Graafen Rosa Richter Stefanie Bockius Elias V. Wolf Gerald Laux Larissa Kavermann Lukas Müller Michaela Hell Moritz C. Halfmann |
| author_sort | Yang Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT offers a wide variety of kernels and sharpness levels for image reconstruction. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine optimal settings for coronary CT angiography (CCTA). (2) Methods: Thirty patients (eight female, mean age 63 ± 13 years) underwent PCD-CCTA in a high-pitch mode. Images were reconstructed using three different kernels and four sharpness levels (Br36/40/44/48, Bv36/40/44/48, and Qr36/40/44/48). To analyze objective image quality, the attenuation, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and vessel sharpness were quantified in proximal and distal coronaries. For subjective image quality, two blinded readers assessed image noise, visually sharp reproduction of coronaries, and the overall image quality using a five-point Likert scale. (3) Results: Attenuation, image noise, CNR, and vessel sharpness significantly differed across kernels (all <i>p</i> < 0.001), with the Br-kernel reaching the highest attenuation. With increasing kernel sharpness, image noise and vessel sharpness increased, whereas CNR continuously decreased. Reconstruction with Br-kernel generally had the highest CNR (Br > Bv > Qr), except Bv-kernel had a superior CNR at sharpness level 40. Bv-kernel had significantly higher vessel sharpness than Br- and Qr-kernel (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Subjective image quality was rated best for kernels Bv40 and Bv36, followed by Br36 and Qr36. (4) Conclusion: Reconstructions with kernel Bv40 are beneficial to achieve optimal image quality in spectral high-pitch CCTA using PCD-CT. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:09:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e17abfea78b4105a1b6de065306dada |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:09:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e17abfea78b4105a1b6de065306dada2023-11-18T07:43:06ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182023-06-011311193710.3390/diagnostics13111937Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT AngiographyYang Yang0Nicola Fink1Tilman Emrich2Dirk Graafen3Rosa Richter4Stefanie Bockius5Elias V. Wolf6Gerald Laux7Larissa Kavermann8Lukas Müller9Michaela Hell10Moritz C. Halfmann11Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDivision of Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, 25 Courtenay Dr, Charleston, SC 29425, USADepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany(1) Background: Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT offers a wide variety of kernels and sharpness levels for image reconstruction. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine optimal settings for coronary CT angiography (CCTA). (2) Methods: Thirty patients (eight female, mean age 63 ± 13 years) underwent PCD-CCTA in a high-pitch mode. Images were reconstructed using three different kernels and four sharpness levels (Br36/40/44/48, Bv36/40/44/48, and Qr36/40/44/48). To analyze objective image quality, the attenuation, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and vessel sharpness were quantified in proximal and distal coronaries. For subjective image quality, two blinded readers assessed image noise, visually sharp reproduction of coronaries, and the overall image quality using a five-point Likert scale. (3) Results: Attenuation, image noise, CNR, and vessel sharpness significantly differed across kernels (all <i>p</i> < 0.001), with the Br-kernel reaching the highest attenuation. With increasing kernel sharpness, image noise and vessel sharpness increased, whereas CNR continuously decreased. Reconstruction with Br-kernel generally had the highest CNR (Br > Bv > Qr), except Bv-kernel had a superior CNR at sharpness level 40. Bv-kernel had significantly higher vessel sharpness than Br- and Qr-kernel (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Subjective image quality was rated best for kernels Bv40 and Bv36, followed by Br36 and Qr36. (4) Conclusion: Reconstructions with kernel Bv40 are beneficial to achieve optimal image quality in spectral high-pitch CCTA using PCD-CT.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/11/1937photon-counting detector CTcoronary CT angiographyhigh-pitch Flash modereconstruction kernelsimage quality |
| spellingShingle | Yang Yang Nicola Fink Tilman Emrich Dirk Graafen Rosa Richter Stefanie Bockius Elias V. Wolf Gerald Laux Larissa Kavermann Lukas Müller Michaela Hell Moritz C. Halfmann Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT Angiography Diagnostics photon-counting detector CT coronary CT angiography high-pitch Flash mode reconstruction kernels image quality |
| title | Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT Angiography |
| title_full | Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT Angiography |
| title_fullStr | Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT Angiography |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT Angiography |
| title_short | Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT Angiography |
| title_sort | optimization of kernel type and sharpness level improves objective and subjective image quality for high pitch photon counting coronary ct angiography |
| topic | photon-counting detector CT coronary CT angiography high-pitch Flash mode reconstruction kernels image quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/11/1937 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yangyang optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT nicolafink optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT tilmanemrich optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT dirkgraafen optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT rosarichter optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT stefaniebockius optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT eliasvwolf optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT geraldlaux optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT larissakavermann optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT lukasmuller optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT michaelahell optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography AT moritzchalfmann optimizationofkerneltypeandsharpnesslevelimprovesobjectiveandsubjectiveimagequalityforhighpitchphotoncountingcoronaryctangiography |