Yang Yang, Fink Nicola, Emrich Tilman, Graafen Dirk, Richter Rosa, Bockius Stefanie, Wolf Elias V, Laux Gerald, Kavermann Larissa, Müller Lukas, Hell Michaela, Halfmann Moritz C
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Division of Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, 25 Courtenay Dr, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Diagnostics (Basel). 2023 Jun 1;13(11):1937. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13111937.
(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 < 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 ( < 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.
（1）背景：光子计数探测器（PCD）CT为图像重建提供了多种内核和锐度级别。这项回顾性研究的目的是确定冠状动脉CT血管造影（CCTA）的最佳设置。（2）方法：30例患者（8名女性，平均年龄63±13岁）以高螺距模式接受PCD-CCTA检查。使用三种不同的内核和四个锐度级别（Br36/40/44/48、Bv36/40/44/48和Qr36/40/44/48）重建图像。为了分析客观图像质量，对近端和远端冠状动脉的衰减、图像噪声、对比噪声比（CNR）和血管锐度进行了量化。对于主观图像质量，两名不知情的阅片者使用五点李克特量表评估图像噪声、冠状动脉的视觉锐利再现以及整体图像质量。（3）结果：不同内核的衰减、图像噪声、CNR和血管锐度存在显著差异（均<0.001），Br内核的衰减最高。随着内核锐度的增加，图像噪声和血管锐度增加，而CNR持续下降。使用Br内核重建通常具有最高的CNR（Br>Bv>Qr），但在锐度级别40时Bv内核的CNR更高。Bv内核的血管锐度明显高于Br和Qr内核（<0.001）。主观图像质量对内核Bv40和Bv36的评价最佳，其次是Br36和Qr36。（4）结论：使用PCD-CT进行光谱高螺距CCTA时，采用Bv40内核重建有利于获得最佳图像质量。
