CT radiation dose and image quality

Image quality is proportional to radiation dose. Improvements in image quality come at a cost of increased radiation dose. CT scanners are more robust today than even 5 years ago. X-ray tubes are capable of producing high levels of almost continuous radiation for rapid CT volume acquisitions and angiographic studies. All parameters of modern CT scanners provide rapid subsecond, large-volume CT acquisitions. How high we go needs to be tempered by how high we should go regarding radiation dose from CT examinations. Radiologists, referring physicians, medical physicists, CT technologists, CT equipment manufacturers, and regulators need to evaluate the appropriateness of radiation dose for different CT studies.     

Effect of bismuth breast shielding on radiation dose and image quality in coronary CT angiography

Background

Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is associated with high radiation dose to the female breasts. Bismuth breast shielding offers the potential to significantly reduce dose to the breasts and nearby organs, but the magnitude of this reduction and its impact on image quality and radiation dose have not been evaluated.

Methods

Radiation doses from CCTA to critical organs were determined using metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors positioned in a customized anthropomorphic whole-body dosimetry verification phantom. Image noise and signal were measured in regions of interest (ROIs) including the coronary arteries.

Results

With bismuth shielding, breast radiation dose was reduced 46%-57% depending on breast size and scanning technique, with more moderate dose reduction to the heart, lungs, and esophagus. However, shielding significantly decreased image signal (by 14.6 HU) and contrast (by 28.4 HU), modestly but significantly increased image noise in ROIs in locations of coronary arteries, and decreased contrast-to-noise ratio by 20.9%.

Conclusions

While bismuth breast shielding can significantly decrease radiation dose to critical organs, it is associated with an increase in image noise, decrease in contrast-to-noise, and changes tissue attenuation characteristics in the location of the coronary arteries.     

Multiphase CT angiography versus single-phase CT angiography: comparison of image quality and radiation dose

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional CT angiography (CTA) is acquired during only a short interval in the arterial phase, which limits its ability to evaluate the cerebral circulation. Our aim was to compare the image quality and radiation dose of conventional single-phase CTA (SP-CTA) with a multiphase CTA (MP-CTA) algorithm reconstructed from a perfusion CT (PCT) dataset.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients undergoing head CTA and PCT in 1 examination were enrolled. The PCT dataset was obtained with 40.0-mm-detector coverage, 5.0-mm axial thickness, 80 kilovolt peak (kVp), 180 mA, and 30 mL of contrast medium. MP-CTA was reconstructed from the same PCT dataset with an axial thickness of 0.625 mm by using a new axial reconstruction algorithm. A conventional SP-CTA dataset was obtained with 0.625-mm axial thickness, 120 kVp, 350 mA, and 60 mL of contrast medium. We compared image quality, vascular enhancement, and radiation dose.RESULTS: SP-CTA and MP-CTA of 50 patients (male/female ratio, 31/19; mean age, 59.25 years) were analyzed. MP-CTA was significantly better than SP-CTA in vascular enhancement (P = .002), in the absence of venous contamination (P = .006), and was significantly higher in image noise (P < .001). MP-CTA used less contrast medium than SP-CTA and could demonstrate hemodynamic information. The effective dose of MP-CTA was 5.73 mSv, which was equal to that in conventional PCT, and it was 3.57 mSv in SP-CTA.CONCLUSION: It is feasible that MP-CTA may provide both CTA and PCT results. Compared with SP-CTA, MP-CTA provides comparable image quality, better vascular enhancement, hemodynamic information, and more noise with less detail visibility with a lower tube voltage. The radiation dose of MP-CTA is higher than that of SP-CTA, but the dose can be reduced by altering the sampling interval.

Cerebral CT angiography (CTA) is a well-established minimally invasive diagnostic procedure used to detect cerebral aneurysms, acute vascular occlusions, or vasospasms and even predicts hematoma expansion in acute intracerebral hemorrhage.^1–6 Cerebral perfusion CT (PCT) is an important tool to evaluate cerebral ischemia, infarction, cerebral vascular reserve, and microvascular permeability of intracranial neoplasms.⁷ With PCT, the linear relationship between contrast concentration and pixel intensity lends itself more readily to quantification of blood flow values, compared with bolus contrast MR perfusion imaging.^8,9 PCT generates parametric maps of blood flow, including cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT), by using complex deconvolution algorithms.⁷ In a systematic review, the authors concluded that the most accurate assessment of the site of occlusion, infarct core, salvageable brain tissue, and collateral circulation in patients suspected of acute stroke is by a combination of PCT and CTA.¹⁰ Compared with the dose used for single-detector-row CT, thin-section, multidetector CT (MDCT) requires an increased radiation dose for both CTA and PCT examinations.^11–13 To attain an “as low as reasonably achievable radiation dose,” many techniques have been tried to optimize radiation-dose levels in MDCT CTA.Currently, most commercialized CT scanners provide axial scanning in maximum z-axis coverage of 40-mm (2.5 mm × 16) sections; thin-thickness reconstruction modes can be scanned in 20-mm (0.625 mm × 32) sections. During acquisition of conventional CTA, only a short interval in the arterial phase is taken for reconstruction. We call this “single-phase CTA” (SP-CTA). During PCT examinations, to evaluate the area of attenuation change, we acquired axial scans of sequential images at the same level in a fixed or variable time interval (ie, multiphase mode). With the increasing scanning speed of CT, the time interval can be reduced to 0.5 second in state-of-the-art MDCT. Scanning coverage is still a problem because of the cone beam geometry in current MDCT. The fully sampled region, the region covered by every view in the scanning, is less than the cylinder, with a height equal to the detector isocenter coverage.^14,15 To overcome this problem, we used extrapolation during the back projection process. The cone beam effect increases farther away from the isocenter and becomes more prominent with a larger FOV. Under such conditions, a novel vendor reconstruction algorithm has been developed to solve the cone beam effect, conducting a 40-mm beam of 64i × 0.625 mm in an axial scanning. We can then obtain raw data of thin-section PCT and perform postprocessing to reconstruct CTA from this thin-section PCT. Because such CTA images contain data from different time points, we call the technique “multiphase CTA” (MP-CTA), in contrast to conventional single-phase (SP-CTA). This study was designed to compare the image quality and radiation dose of MP-CTA by using the novel thin-reconstruction algorithm from the PCT dataset with the SP-CTA data from the same patient.     

Multidetector CT of bronchiectasis: effect of radiation dose on image quality

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our prospective study was to assess the image quality with respect to the radiation dose incurred by multidetector CT (MDCT) in patients with suspected bronchiectasis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Image clusters, composed of nine images, using MDCT (120 kVp, a 2.5-mm collimation, a pitch of 6, and 2.5-mm reconstruction intervals) were obtained at each of two levels-the azygous arch and the right inferior pulmonary vein-at 170, 100, 70, 40, 20, and 10 mA. Independently, two chest radiologists assessed and compared the quality of the images obtained at the six milliamperage exposures. Image quality was graded using a 5-point scale with lung and mediastinal window settings. Radiation doses were measured at each of the six milliamperage settings while scanning the whole lung of a thoracic phantom using MDCT. RESULTS: The mean image quality scores at exposures of 170, 100, 70, 40, 20, 10 mA were as follows: 3.9, 3.7, 3.8, 3.2, 2.5, 1.6 at lung window settings and 4.1, 4.3, 4.0, 3.4, 2.3, 1.3 at mediastinal window settings, respectively. Images obtained at 70 mA were rated significantly better than those obtained at 40 mA or less (p < 0.01). The mean radiation dose at 170, 100, 70, 40, 20, 10 mA was 23.72, 14.39, 10.54, 5.41, 2.74, and 1.50 mGy, respectively. CONCLUSION: With a tube current setting as low as 70 mA, MDCT provides images of acceptable quality and volumetric data sets for the evaluation of bronchiectasis. The trade-off of using MDCT rather than conventional high-resolution CT is that the radiation dose is five times higher with MDCT (10.54 mGy) than with conventional high-resolution CT (2.17 mGy with parameters of 120 kVp, 170 mA, 1-mm collimation, and 10-mm intervals).     

Low-dose, volumetric helical CT: image quality, radiation dose, and usefulness for evaluation of bronchiectasis

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to assess the image quality, radiation dose, and clinical applicability of low-dose, volumetric helical CT in the evaluation of bronchiectasis. METHODS: Volumetric helical CT scans (120 kVp, 3-mm collimation, pitch of 2, and reconstruction interval of 2 mm) were obtained through the thorax at four levels of tube current: 150, 100, 70, and 40 mA. There were a total of 12 patients who underwent CT scan either for suspected bronchiectasis or for lung cancer screening, with three patients allocated to each current level. Five radiologists assessed and compared image quality of the helical CT scans obtained at the various exposure levels. Radiation doses of helical CT performed with four different current settings and of high-resolution CT (120 kVp, 170 mA, 1-mm collimation, and 10-mm intervals) were measured. The diagnostic usefulness of the 40-mA helical CT images was compared with that of high-resolution CT by two observers in 52 patients with known or suspected airway diseases. RESULTS: With helical CT, there was no significant difference in image quality among the four different levels of current (P > 0.05). Radiation doses associated with the 40-, 70-, 100-, and 150-mA helical techniques were 3.21 mGy (range, 3.02-3.57), 4.81 mGy (range, 3.89-5.93), 6.46 mGy (range, 6.01-7.31), and 10.4 mGy (range, 8.93-12.1), respectively, whereas that of high-resolution CT was 2.17 mGy (range, 1.90-2.67). Of 52 patients, 44.5 and 47 patients (the mean of positive interpretations by the five observers) were diagnosed with bronchiectasis at high-resolution and low-dose helical CT, respectively. Of 928 segments, bronchiectasis was seen in 152.5 segments on high-resolution CT and in 193.5 segments on helical CT. The interobserver agreement (k-values) was acceptable for both techniques. CONCLUSIONS: With acceptable images and similar radiation dose, low-dose volumetric helical CT at 40 mA may offer more information than does high-resolution CT in the evaluation of bronchiectasis.     

CT evaluation of coronary artery stents with iterative image reconstruction: improvements in image quality and potential for radiation dose reduction

Objectives

Comparison of coronary artery stent assessment with cardiac CT angiography (cCTA) using traditional filtered back projection (FBP) and sinogram affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE), in both full- and half-radiation dose image data.

Methods

Dual-source cCTA studies of 37 implanted stents were reconstructed at full- and half-radiation dose with FBP and SAFIRE. Half-dose data were based on projections from one DSCT detector. In-stent noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and stent-lumen attenuation increase ratio (SAIR) were measured and image quality graded. Stent volumes were measured to gauge severity of beam hardening artefacts.

Results

Full-dose SAFIRE reconstructions were superior to full-dose FBP vis-à-vis in-stent noise (21.2?±?6.6 vs. 35.7?±?17.5; P?<?0.05), SNR (22.1?±?8.6 vs. 14.3?±?6.7; P?<?0.05), SAIR (19.6?±?17.6 vs. 33.4?±?20.4%; P?<?0.05), and image quality (4.2?±?0.86 vs. 3.5?±?1.0; P?<?0.05). Stent volumes were lower measured with SAFIRE (119.9?±?53.7 vs. 129.8?±?65.0?mm³; P?>?0.05). Comparing half-dose SAFIRE with full-dose FBP, in-stent noise (26.7?±?13.0 vs. 35.7?±?17.5; P?<?0.05) and SNR (18.2?±?6.9 vs. 14.3?±?6.7; P?<?0.05) improved significantly. SAIR (31.6?±?24.3 vs. 33.4?±?20.4%; P?>?0.05), stent volume (129.6?±?57.3 vs. 129.8?±?65.0?mm³; P?>?0.05), and image quality (3.5?±?1.0 vs. 3.7?±?1.1; P?>?0.05) did not differ. Radiation dose decreased from 8.7?±?5.2 to 4.3?±?2.6?mSv.

Conclusions

Iterative reconstruction significantly improves imaging of coronary artery stents by CT compared with FBP, even with half-radiation-dose data.

Key Points

? Computed tomography (CT) is becoming an increasingly important investigation for cardiac problems. ? Iterative CT reconstruction techniques significantly improve coronary artery stent evaluation. ? Iterative reconstruction has the potential to reduce radiation dose requirements. ? Improved stent visualisation detects complications better, further reducing the need for catheterisation.     

In-plane bismuth breast shields for pediatric CT: effects on radiation dose and image quality using experimental and clinical data

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the amount of radiation dose reduction and its effect on image quality when using an in-plane bismuth breast shield for multidetector CT (MDCT) of the chest and abdomen in female pediatric patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive MDCT examinations (chest, 29; abdomen, 21) of female pediatric patients (mean age, 9 years; range, 2 months-18 years) were performed with a 2-ply (1.7 g of bismuth per square centimeter) bismuth shield (three sizes to accommodate patients of varying sizes) overlying the patient's breasts. MDCT images were evaluated for a perceptible difference in image quality in the lungs at the anatomic level under the shield as compared with nonshielded lung and whether the images were of diagnostic quality. In addition, 2-mm regions of interest were placed in the peripheral anterior and posterior portions of each lung in shielded and nonshielded areas, and noise (standard deviation in Hounsfield units) was measured in the regions. Differences among the regions in noise were compared for shielded versus nonshielded areas (paired t test). To measure differences in actual dose, we also evaluated the breast shield with an infant anthropomorphic phantom using thermoluminescent detectors in the breast tissue. The phantom was imaged with and without the breast shield using identical MDCT parameters. RESULTS: All MDCT scans of patients were of diagnostic quality with no perceptible difference in image quality in shielded versus nonshielded lung. We found no statistically significant difference in noise between the shielded and nonshielded lung regions of interest (shielded: mean noise, 17.3 H; nonshielded: mean noise, 18.8 H; p = 0.5180). Phantom measurements revealed a 29% reduction in radiation dose to the breast when a medium-dose MDCT protocol was used. CONCLUSION: Bismuth in-plane breast shielding for pediatric MDCT decreased radiation dose to the breast without qualitative or quantitative changes in image quality.     

Influence of radiation dose on image quality.

When the speed of a recording medium is doubled the background quantum mottle is increased by a factor square root 2. However, the signal/noise ratio is changed not in proportion to the square root of the exposure, but in a linear fashion, i.e. by a factor 2. The change in the depiction of objects with a very high attenuation difference in relation to its surroundings appears not to be linear, but proportional to the square root of the exposure. Such objects (metal wire meshes, lead bar grids) should thus be avoided in routine evaluation of image quality since they give incomplete information as to image impairment when high-speed recording media are used.     

双源双能量CT肺动脉成像辐射剂量与图像质量的比较研究

_目的：比较第一代双源双能量 CT（DECT）与第二代双源双能量 CT 肺动脉成像（CTPA）的辐射剂量和图像质量。方法：120例疑似肺栓塞患者行 DE-CTPA 检查,其中40例患者行第二代双源 DECT 80/Sn140 kV 检查（第一组）,40例患者行第二代双源 DECT 100/Sn140 kV 检查（第二组）,40例患者行第一代双源 DECT 140/80 kV 检查（第三组）。测量每例患者肺动脉主干、肺动脉段、空气及背部脂肪的 CT 值及标准差,对肺动脉图像进行主观评分,计算图像信噪比（SNR）、对比噪声比（CNR）及每例患者的有效剂量（ED）。结果：第一组肺动脉平均 CT 值[（354．1±73．4）HU]明显高于第二组[（290．1±73．1）HU,P＜0．001]和第三组[（303．9±73．3）HU,P＜0．001],但第二组与第三组差异无统计学意义（P＝0．399）;第三组平均 SNR（24．8±8．4）低于第一组（40．4±12．9,P＜0．001）和第二组（44．6±12．9,P＜0．001）,但第一组与第二组差异无统计学意义（P＝0．115）。第一组平均 CNR（435．3±77．7）明显高于第二组（355．8±77．8,P＜0．001）和第三组（384．8±79．0,P＝0．005）,但第二组与第三组差异无统计学意义（P＝0．100）。三组图像主观质量评分差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。第一组的 ED[（1．2±0．3）mSv]明显低于第二组[（2．4±0．7）mSv]和第三组[（3．0±0．7）mSv],差异均有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。结论：第二代双源 DECT 80/Sn140 kV 扫描方案可在大幅度降低辐射剂量的同时获得满足诊断需求的图像。     

双能量CT头颅血管成像的影像质量、辐射剂量及初步临床应用

Objective To assess the clinical value of dual-energy intracranial CT angiography (CTA).Methods Forty-one patients suspected of intracranial vascular diseases underwent dual-energy intracranial CT angiography, and 41 patients who underwent conventional subtraction CT were enrolled as the control group.Image quality of intracranial and skull base vessels and radiation dose between dual-energy CTA and conventional subtraction CTA were compared using two independent sample nonparametrie test and independent-samples t test, respectively.Prevalence and size of lesions detected by dual-energy CTA and digital subtraction CTA were compared using paired-samples t test and Spearman correlative analysis. Results The percentage of image quality scored 5 was 70.7% (29/41) for dual-energy CTA and 75.6% (31/41) for conventional subtraction CTA.There was no significant difference between the two groups(Z= -0.455, P=0.650).Image quality of vessels at the skull base in conventional subtraction CTA was superior to that in dual-energy CTA, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment (Z=-4.087, P= 0.000).Radiation exposure of dual energy CTA and conventional CTA were (396.54±17.43) and (1090.95±114.29) mGy · cm respectively.Radiation exposure was decreased by 64% (t=-38.52, P=0.000) by dual energy CTA compared with conventional subtraction CTA.Out of the 41 patients,19 patients were diagnosed as intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients as arteriovenous malformation (AVM), 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and the remaining 17 patients with negative results.Nine patients with intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients with AVM, 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and 2 patients with negative findings underwent DSA or operation, with concordant findings from both techniques.Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by dual-energy CTA was (2.90±1.61), (5.23±1.68) and (3.83±1.69) nun, respectively; Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by DSA was (2.95±1.71), (5.10±1.60) ,(3.83±1.65) nan,respectively.There was no significant difference for the diameters of aneurysm between dual energy CTA and DSA ((t=-0.734,1.936,0.12.5 respectively, P=0.482,0.085,0.903 respectively), and good correlation was found between diameter measurements using the two techniques(r=0.964,0.976,0.973, respectively, all P=0.000) Conclusions Compared with conventional subtraction CTA, dual energy CTA has good image quality for intracranial vessels; however, image quality of the skull base vessels is worse, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment.Dual energy CTA has decreased radiation dose and a high diagnostic accuracy, being a practical imaging madality for diagnosis of intracranial vascular lesions.     

双能量CT头颅血管成像的影像质量、辐射剂量及初步临床应用

Objective To assess the clinical value of dual-energy intracranial CT angiography (CTA).Methods Forty-one patients suspected of intracranial vascular diseases underwent dual-energy intracranial CT angiography, and 41 patients who underwent conventional subtraction CT were enrolled as the control group.Image quality of intracranial and skull base vessels and radiation dose between dual-energy CTA and conventional subtraction CTA were compared using two independent sample nonparametrie test and independent-samples t test, respectively.Prevalence and size of lesions detected by dual-energy CTA and digital subtraction CTA were compared using paired-samples t test and Spearman correlative analysis. Results The percentage of image quality scored 5 was 70.7% (29/41) for dual-energy CTA and 75.6% (31/41) for conventional subtraction CTA.There was no significant difference between the two groups(Z= -0.455, P=0.650).Image quality of vessels at the skull base in conventional subtraction CTA was superior to that in dual-energy CTA, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment (Z=-4.087, P= 0.000).Radiation exposure of dual energy CTA and conventional CTA were (396.54±17.43) and (1090.95±114.29) mGy · cm respectively.Radiation exposure was decreased by 64% (t=-38.52, P=0.000) by dual energy CTA compared with conventional subtraction CTA.Out of the 41 patients,19 patients were diagnosed as intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients as arteriovenous malformation (AVM), 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and the remaining 17 patients with negative results.Nine patients with intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients with AVM, 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and 2 patients with negative findings underwent DSA or operation, with concordant findings from both techniques.Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by dual-energy CTA was (2.90±1.61), (5.23±1.68) and (3.83±1.69) nun, respectively; Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by DSA was (2.95±1.71), (5.10±1.60) ,(3.83±1.65) nan,respectively.There was no significant difference for the diameters of aneurysm between dual energy CTA and DSA ((t=-0.734,1.936,0.12.5 respectively, P=0.482,0.085,0.903 respectively), and good correlation was found between diameter measurements using the two techniques(r=0.964,0.976,0.973, respectively, all P=0.000) Conclusions Compared with conventional subtraction CTA, dual energy CTA has good image quality for intracranial vessels; however, image quality of the skull base vessels is worse, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment.Dual energy CTA has decreased radiation dose and a high diagnostic accuracy, being a practical imaging madality for diagnosis of intracranial vascular lesions.     

High-pitch dual-source CT angiography of supra-aortic arteries: assessment of image quality and radiation dose

Introduction

High-pitch CT angiography (CTA) is a recent innovation that allows significant shortening of scan time with volume coverage of 43 mm per second. The aim of our study was to assess this technique in CTA of the head and neck.

Methods

CTA of supra-aortic arteries was performed in 50 patients using two acquisition protocols: conventional single-source 64-slice (pitch 1.2) and high-pitch dual-source 128-slice CT (pitch 3.2). Subjective and objective image quality of supra-aortic vessel ostia as well as intra- and extra-cranial segments was retrospectively assessed by blinded readers and radiation dose compared between the two protocols.

Results

Conventional and high-pitch CTA achieved comparable signal-to-noise ratios in arterial (54.3?±?16.5 versus 57.3?±?14.8; p?=?0.50) and venous segments (15.8?±?6.7 versus 18.9?±?8.9; p?=?0.21). High-pitch scanning was, however, associated with sharper delineation of vessel contours and image quality significantly improved at the level of supra-aortic vessel ostia (p?<?0.0001) as well as along the brachiocephalic trunk (p?<?0.0001), the subclavian arteries (p?<?0.0001), proximal common carotid arteries (p?=?0.01), and vertebral V1 segments (p?<?0.0001). Using the high-pitch mode, the dose-length product was reduced by about 35 % (218.2?±?30 versus 141.8?±?20 mGy?×?cm).

Conclusions

Due to elimination of transmitted cardiac motion, high-pitch CTA of the neck improves image quality in the proximity of the aortic arch while significantly lowering radiation dose. The technique thus qualifies as a promising alternative to conventional spiral CTA and may be particularly useful for identification of ostial stenosis.     

双能量CT头颅血管成像的影像质量、辐射剂量及初步临床应用

Objective To assess the clinical value of dual-energy intracranial CT angiography (CTA).Methods Forty-one patients suspected of intracranial vascular diseases underwent dual-energy intracranial CT angiography, and 41 patients who underwent conventional subtraction CT were enrolled as the control group.Image quality of intracranial and skull base vessels and radiation dose between dual-energy CTA and conventional subtraction CTA were compared using two independent sample nonparametrie test and independent-samples t test, respectively.Prevalence and size of lesions detected by dual-energy CTA and digital subtraction CTA were compared using paired-samples t test and Spearman correlative analysis. Results The percentage of image quality scored 5 was 70.7% (29/41) for dual-energy CTA and 75.6% (31/41) for conventional subtraction CTA.There was no significant difference between the two groups(Z= -0.455, P=0.650).Image quality of vessels at the skull base in conventional subtraction CTA was superior to that in dual-energy CTA, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment (Z=-4.087, P= 0.000).Radiation exposure of dual energy CTA and conventional CTA were (396.54±17.43) and (1090.95±114.29) mGy · cm respectively.Radiation exposure was decreased by 64% (t=-38.52, P=0.000) by dual energy CTA compared with conventional subtraction CTA.Out of the 41 patients,19 patients were diagnosed as intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients as arteriovenous malformation (AVM), 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and the remaining 17 patients with negative results.Nine patients with intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients with AVM, 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and 2 patients with negative findings underwent DSA or operation, with concordant findings from both techniques.Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by dual-energy CTA was (2.90±1.61), (5.23±1.68) and (3.83±1.69) nun, respectively; Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by DSA was (2.95±1.71), (5.10±1.60) ,(3.83±1.65) nan,respectively.There was no significant difference for the diameters of aneurysm between dual energy CTA and DSA ((t=-0.734,1.936,0.12.5 respectively, P=0.482,0.085,0.903 respectively), and good correlation was found between diameter measurements using the two techniques(r=0.964,0.976,0.973, respectively, all P=0.000) Conclusions Compared with conventional subtraction CTA, dual energy CTA has good image quality for intracranial vessels; however, image quality of the skull base vessels is worse, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment.Dual energy CTA has decreased radiation dose and a high diagnostic accuracy, being a practical imaging madality for diagnosis of intracranial vascular lesions.     

双能量CT头颅血管成像的影像质量、辐射剂量及初步临床应用

Objective To assess the clinical value of dual-energy intracranial CT angiography (CTA).Methods Forty-one patients suspected of intracranial vascular diseases underwent dual-energy intracranial CT angiography, and 41 patients who underwent conventional subtraction CT were enrolled as the control group.Image quality of intracranial and skull base vessels and radiation dose between dual-energy CTA and conventional subtraction CTA were compared using two independent sample nonparametrie test and independent-samples t test, respectively.Prevalence and size of lesions detected by dual-energy CTA and digital subtraction CTA were compared using paired-samples t test and Spearman correlative analysis. Results The percentage of image quality scored 5 was 70.7% (29/41) for dual-energy CTA and 75.6% (31/41) for conventional subtraction CTA.There was no significant difference between the two groups(Z= -0.455, P=0.650).Image quality of vessels at the skull base in conventional subtraction CTA was superior to that in dual-energy CTA, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment (Z=-4.087, P= 0.000).Radiation exposure of dual energy CTA and conventional CTA were (396.54±17.43) and (1090.95±114.29) mGy · cm respectively.Radiation exposure was decreased by 64% (t=-38.52, P=0.000) by dual energy CTA compared with conventional subtraction CTA.Out of the 41 patients,19 patients were diagnosed as intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients as arteriovenous malformation (AVM), 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and the remaining 17 patients with negative results.Nine patients with intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients with AVM, 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and 2 patients with negative findings underwent DSA or operation, with concordant findings from both techniques.Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by dual-energy CTA was (2.90±1.61), (5.23±1.68) and (3.83±1.69) nun, respectively; Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by DSA was (2.95±1.71), (5.10±1.60) ,(3.83±1.65) nan,respectively.There was no significant difference for the diameters of aneurysm between dual energy CTA and DSA ((t=-0.734,1.936,0.12.5 respectively, P=0.482,0.085,0.903 respectively), and good correlation was found between diameter measurements using the two techniques(r=0.964,0.976,0.973, respectively, all P=0.000) Conclusions Compared with conventional subtraction CTA, dual energy CTA has good image quality for intracranial vessels; however, image quality of the skull base vessels is worse, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment.Dual energy CTA has decreased radiation dose and a high diagnostic accuracy, being a practical imaging madality for diagnosis of intracranial vascular lesions.     

双能量CT头颅血管成像的影像质量、辐射剂量及初步临床应用

目的 探讨双源CT(DSCT)双能量技术头颅血管成像的初步临床应用价值.方法 选择41例临床怀疑有脑血管病变患者行双能量CTA(DECTA),另选择对照组41例患者行常规减影CTA.2名医师共同进行分析协商,评价两种方法颅底及颅内血管影像质量,计算辐射剂量,分析DECTA对41例患者的检查情况,选取经DSA证实的9例12个动脉瘤,测量动脉瘤的大小、瘤颈,并与DSA进行比较.DECTA和常规减影CTA血管影像质量的比较采用独立样本的非参数等级检验,辐射剂量的比较采用两个独立样本的t检验,DECTA和DSA显示动脉瘤的大小、瘤颈的比较采用配对t检验,DECTA和DSA测量动脉瘤颈、瘤长轴及瘤短轴的相关性采用Spearman相关分析.结果 颅内血管DECTA和常规减影CTA影像质量5分的病例分别占70.7%(29/41)、75.6%(31/41),差异无统计学意义(Z=-0.455,P=0.650),而颅底血管常规减影CTA总的影像质量优于DECTA(Z=-4.087,P=0.000),主要是岩段和虹吸段的影像质量较差;DECTA和常规CTA总辐射剂量分别为(396.54±17.43)、(1090.95±114.29)mGy·cm;DECTA所用总辐射剂量较常规减影CTA总辐射剂量降低了64%,差异有统计学意义(t=-38.52,P=0.000).41例临床怀疑有脑血管病变患者,DECTA检出19例患者有动脉瘤,2例动静脉畸形,3例烟雾病,17例阴性患者.9例动脉瘤患者(12个动脉瘤)、2例脑动静脉畸形、3例烟雾病和2例阴性患者行DSA或手术证实,诊断符合率达100%.DECTA检测动脉瘤颈、瘤长轴及瘤短轴分别为(2.90±1.61)、(5.23±1.68)及(3.83±1.69)mm,DSA检测动脉瘤颈、瘤长轴及瘤短轴分别为(2.95±1.71)、(5.10±1.60)及(3.83±1.65)mm.两者在动脉瘤大小、瘤径测量方面的差别无统计学意义(瘤颈、瘤长轴及短轴所对应的t值分别为-0.734、1.936及0.125,P值分别0.482、0.085及0.903);且两者测量之间有很好的相关性(瘤颈、瘤长轴及短轴的r值分别为0.964、0.976、0.973,P值均为0.000).结论 相对于常规减影CTA,颅内血管DECTA的图像质量没有明显下降,而颅底血管,尤其是岩段和虹吸段的影像质量较差.双源CT双能量CTA明显减少患者辐射剂量,有很高的诊断准确性,是一种较好的影像学检查手段.     

双能量CT头颅血管成像的影像质量、辐射剂量及初步临床应用

Objective To assess the clinical value of dual-energy intracranial CT angiography (CTA).Methods Forty-one patients suspected of intracranial vascular diseases underwent dual-energy intracranial CT angiography, and 41 patients who underwent conventional subtraction CT were enrolled as the control group.Image quality of intracranial and skull base vessels and radiation dose between dual-energy CTA and conventional subtraction CTA were compared using two independent sample nonparametrie test and independent-samples t test, respectively.Prevalence and size of lesions detected by dual-energy CTA and digital subtraction CTA were compared using paired-samples t test and Spearman correlative analysis. Results The percentage of image quality scored 5 was 70.7% (29/41) for dual-energy CTA and 75.6% (31/41) for conventional subtraction CTA.There was no significant difference between the two groups(Z= -0.455, P=0.650).Image quality of vessels at the skull base in conventional subtraction CTA was superior to that in dual-energy CTA, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment (Z=-4.087, P= 0.000).Radiation exposure of dual energy CTA and conventional CTA were (396.54±17.43) and (1090.95±114.29) mGy · cm respectively.Radiation exposure was decreased by 64% (t=-38.52, P=0.000) by dual energy CTA compared with conventional subtraction CTA.Out of the 41 patients,19 patients were diagnosed as intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients as arteriovenous malformation (AVM), 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and the remaining 17 patients with negative results.Nine patients with intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients with AVM, 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and 2 patients with negative findings underwent DSA or operation, with concordant findings from both techniques.Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by dual-energy CTA was (2.90±1.61), (5.23±1.68) and (3.83±1.69) nun, respectively; Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by DSA was (2.95±1.71), (5.10±1.60) ,(3.83±1.65) nan,respectively.There was no significant difference for the diameters of aneurysm between dual energy CTA and DSA ((t=-0.734,1.936,0.12.5 respectively, P=0.482,0.085,0.903 respectively), and good correlation was found between diameter measurements using the two techniques(r=0.964,0.976,0.973, respectively, all P=0.000) Conclusions Compared with conventional subtraction CTA, dual energy CTA has good image quality for intracranial vessels; however, image quality of the skull base vessels is worse, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment.Dual energy CTA has decreased radiation dose and a high diagnostic accuracy, being a practical imaging madality for diagnosis of intracranial vascular lesions.     

双能量CT头颅血管成像的影像质量、辐射剂量及初步临床应用

Objective To assess the clinical value of dual-energy intracranial CT angiography (CTA).Methods Forty-one patients suspected of intracranial vascular diseases underwent dual-energy intracranial CT angiography, and 41 patients who underwent conventional subtraction CT were enrolled as the control group.Image quality of intracranial and skull base vessels and radiation dose between dual-energy CTA and conventional subtraction CTA were compared using two independent sample nonparametrie test and independent-samples t test, respectively.Prevalence and size of lesions detected by dual-energy CTA and digital subtraction CTA were compared using paired-samples t test and Spearman correlative analysis. Results The percentage of image quality scored 5 was 70.7% (29/41) for dual-energy CTA and 75.6% (31/41) for conventional subtraction CTA.There was no significant difference between the two groups(Z= -0.455, P=0.650).Image quality of vessels at the skull base in conventional subtraction CTA was superior to that in dual-energy CTA, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment (Z=-4.087, P= 0.000).Radiation exposure of dual energy CTA and conventional CTA were (396.54±17.43) and (1090.95±114.29) mGy · cm respectively.Radiation exposure was decreased by 64% (t=-38.52, P=0.000) by dual energy CTA compared with conventional subtraction CTA.Out of the 41 patients,19 patients were diagnosed as intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients as arteriovenous malformation (AVM), 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and the remaining 17 patients with negative results.Nine patients with intracranial aneurysm, 2 patients with AVM, 3 patients with Moya-moya's disease, and 2 patients with negative findings underwent DSA or operation, with concordant findings from both techniques.Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by dual-energy CTA was (2.90±1.61), (5.23±1.68) and (3.83±1.69) nun, respectively; Diameter of aneurysm neck, long axis and minor axis by DSA was (2.95±1.71), (5.10±1.60) ,(3.83±1.65) nan,respectively.There was no significant difference for the diameters of aneurysm between dual energy CTA and DSA ((t=-0.734,1.936,0.12.5 respectively, P=0.482,0.085,0.903 respectively), and good correlation was found between diameter measurements using the two techniques(r=0.964,0.976,0.973, respectively, all P=0.000) Conclusions Compared with conventional subtraction CTA, dual energy CTA has good image quality for intracranial vessels; however, image quality of the skull base vessels is worse, especially for the petrosal and syphon segment.Dual energy CTA has decreased radiation dose and a high diagnostic accuracy, being a practical imaging madality for diagnosis of intracranial vascular lesions.