TY - JOUR
T1 - Single-acquisition dual-energy multidetector computed tomography
T2 - Analysis of vascular enhancement and postprocessing techniques for evaluating the thoracic aorta
AU - Godoy, Myrna C.B.
AU - Naidich, David P.
AU - Marchiori, Edson
AU - Leidecker, Christianne
AU - Schmidt, Bernhard
AU - Assadourian, Bernard
AU - Vlahos, Ioannis
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Purpose: The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the potential of low-peak kilovoltage (kVp) images acquired with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to improve aortic attenuation and reduce contrast agent utilization and (2) to evaluate the feasibility of materialspecific DECT imaging for evaluating aortic disease. Materials and Methods: Aortic imaging characteristics of 2 groups of patients examined with DECT were compared. In the first group, CT angiography (CTA) was performed in patients with known or suspected aortic disease (CTA group: N = 20, 100Y150 mL of contrast at 4.5 mL/s). In the second group, reduced contrast volume CTA was performed in patients with Broutine[ indications (RC group: N = 20, 50Y60 mL at 3 mL/s followed by a saline chaser). In both groups, aortic attenuation and SD were measured at 80 and 140 kVp, and the image quality was analyzed using a 5-point scale. The use of DECT postprocessing techniques for assessing aortic pathology was also evaluated. Results: For all patients, the aortic attenuation was significantly higher at 80 kVp than at 140 kVp (P G <.001). Image noise measured quantitatively was higher at 80 kVp (P < 0.001) but did not affect the perceived image quality (P = 0.3). Using low-peak kilovoltage allowed aortic CTA to be performed with a markedly reduced contrast volume and flow rate, with image quality similar to standard CTA (P = 0.2). In a series of cases with proved aortic disease, comparison of true precontrast and subtraction Bvirtual noncontrast[ images showed the potential to eliminate aortic precontrast imaging, reducing radiation exposure. Conclusions: Single-acquisition DECT combines (1) the benefits of low-kVp vascular imaging (increased iodine conspicuity coupled with a contrast volume/rate reduction) and (2) the use of material-specific imaging techniques to uniquely characterize the aortic pathology.
AB - Purpose: The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the potential of low-peak kilovoltage (kVp) images acquired with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to improve aortic attenuation and reduce contrast agent utilization and (2) to evaluate the feasibility of materialspecific DECT imaging for evaluating aortic disease. Materials and Methods: Aortic imaging characteristics of 2 groups of patients examined with DECT were compared. In the first group, CT angiography (CTA) was performed in patients with known or suspected aortic disease (CTA group: N = 20, 100Y150 mL of contrast at 4.5 mL/s). In the second group, reduced contrast volume CTA was performed in patients with Broutine[ indications (RC group: N = 20, 50Y60 mL at 3 mL/s followed by a saline chaser). In both groups, aortic attenuation and SD were measured at 80 and 140 kVp, and the image quality was analyzed using a 5-point scale. The use of DECT postprocessing techniques for assessing aortic pathology was also evaluated. Results: For all patients, the aortic attenuation was significantly higher at 80 kVp than at 140 kVp (P G <.001). Image noise measured quantitatively was higher at 80 kVp (P < 0.001) but did not affect the perceived image quality (P = 0.3). Using low-peak kilovoltage allowed aortic CTA to be performed with a markedly reduced contrast volume and flow rate, with image quality similar to standard CTA (P = 0.2). In a series of cases with proved aortic disease, comparison of true precontrast and subtraction Bvirtual noncontrast[ images showed the potential to eliminate aortic precontrast imaging, reducing radiation exposure. Conclusions: Single-acquisition DECT combines (1) the benefits of low-kVp vascular imaging (increased iodine conspicuity coupled with a contrast volume/rate reduction) and (2) the use of material-specific imaging techniques to uniquely characterize the aortic pathology.
KW - Aorta
KW - CT angiography
KW - Dual-energy CT
KW - Dual-source CT
KW - Multidetector CT
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U2 - 10.1097/RCT.0b013e3181e10627
DO - 10.1097/RCT.0b013e3181e10627
M3 - Article
C2 - 20861768
AN - SCOPUS:77958119926
SN - 0363-8715
VL - 34
SP - 670
EP - 677
JO - Journal of computer assisted tomography
JF - Journal of computer assisted tomography
IS - 5
ER -