Zhang Huan, Xing Yue, Wang Lingyun, Hu Yangfan, Xu Zhihan, Chen Haoda, Lu Junjie, Yang Jiarui, Ding Bei, Hu Weiguo, Zhong Jingyu
Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
Department of Imaging, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200336, China.
J Imaging Inform Med. 2025 Jun;38(3):1891-1903. doi: 10.1007/s10278-024-01232-5. Epub 2024 Oct 25.
This study aimed to investigate the potential benefit of ultra-high-resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) angiography in visualization of abdominal arteries in comparison to standard-reconstruction (SR) images of virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) at low kiloelectron volt (keV). We prospectively included 47 and 47 participants to undergo contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans within UHR mode on a PCD-CT system using full-dose (FD) and low-dose (LD) protocols, respectively. The data were reconstructed into six series of images: FD_UHR_Br48, FD_UHR_Bv56, FD_UHR_Bv60, FD_SR_Bv40, LD_UHR_Bv48, and LD_SR_Bv40. The UHR reconstructions were performed with three kernels (Bv48, Bv56, and Bv60) within 0.2 mm. The SR were virtual monoenergetic imaging reconstruction with Bv40 kernel at 40-keV within 1 mm. Each series of axial images were reconstructed into coronal and volume-rendered images. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of seven arteries were measured. Three radiologists assessed the image quality, and visibility of nine arteries on all the images. SNR and CNR values of SR images were significantly higher than those of UHR images (P < 0.001). The SR images have higher ratings in image noise (P < 0.001), but the FD_UHR_Bv56 and FD_UHR_Bv60 images has higher rating in vessel sharpness (P < 0.001). The overall quality was not significantly different among FD_VMI_40keV, LD_VMI_40keV, FD_UHR_Bv48, and LD_UHR_Bv48 images (P > 0.05) but higher than those of FD_UHR_Bv56 and FD_UHR_Bv60 images (P < 0.001). There is no significant difference of nine abdominal arteries among six series of images of axial, coronal and volume-rendered images (P > 0.05). To conclude, 1-mm SR image of VMI at 40-keV is superior to 0.2-mm UHR regardless of which kernel is used to visualize abdominal arteries, while 0.2-mm UHR image using a relatively smooth kernel may allow similar image quality and artery visibility when thinner slice image is warranted.
本研究旨在探讨超高分辨率（UHR）光子计数探测器CT（PCD-CT）血管造影在显示腹部动脉方面相较于低千伏（keV）下虚拟单能图像（VMI）的标准重建（SR）图像的潜在优势。我们前瞻性纳入了47名和47名参与者，分别在PCD-CT系统的UHR模式下使用全剂量（FD）和低剂量（LD）方案进行对比增强腹部CT扫描。数据被重建为六组图像：FD_UHR_Br48、FD_UHR_Bv56、FD_UHR_Bv60、FD_SR_Bv40、LD_UHR_Bv48和LD_SR_Bv40。UHR重建使用了三个内核（Bv48、Bv56和Bv60），层厚为0.2毫米。SR是在40keV下使用Bv40内核进行的虚拟单能成像重建，层厚为1毫米。每组轴向图像都被重建为冠状位和容积再现图像。测量了七条动脉的信噪比（SNR）和对比噪声比（CNR）。三位放射科医生评估了所有图像的图像质量以及九条动脉的可视性。SR图像的SNR和CNR值显著高于UHR图像（P < 0.001）。SR图像在图像噪声方面评分更高（P < 0.001），但FD_UHR_Bv56和FD_UHR_Bv60图像在血管锐度方面评分更高（P < 0.001）。FD_VMI_40keV、LD_VMI_40keV、FD_UHR_Bv48和LD_UHR_Bv48图像的整体质量无显著差异（P > 0.05），但高于FD_UHR_Bv56和FD_UHR_Bv60图像（P < 0.001）。在轴向、冠状位和容积再现图像的六组图像中，九条腹部动脉无显著差异（P > 0.05）。总之，无论使用哪种内核来显示腹部动脉，40keV下1毫米的VMI的SR图像均优于0.2毫米的UHR图像，而当需要更薄的层厚图像时，使用相对平滑内核的0.2毫米UHR图像可能具有相似的图像质量和动脉可视性。
