Nakashima Masahiro, Kawai Tatsuya, Matsumoto Kazuhisa, Kawaguchi Takatsune, Urano Misugi, Kitera Nobuo, Itoh Toshihide, Hiwatashi Akio
Department of Radiology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
Department of Radiology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
Eur J Radiol. 2024 Dec;181:111810. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111810. Epub 2024 Oct 30.
To investigate the use of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) to improve brachial plexus depiction.
This retrospective study included patients who underwent neck CT from March to December 2023. To assess the optimal reconstruction condition in PCD-CT, the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) on images using various quantitative regular (Qr) kernels and strengths of quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR) were evaluated. Next, images obtained by ultra-high-resolution mode in PCD-CT (PCD-UHR), standard mode in PCD-CT (PCD-STD), and standard mode in energy-integrating detector CT (EID-STD) of 20 patients each were compared regarding brachial plexus depiction. A qualitative evaluation was performed using a 5-point Likert scale regarding sharpness, noise, and overall image quality. The standard deviations (SDs), SNRs, and contrast-to noise ratios (CNRs) were quantitatively evaluated.
Overall, 60 patients (mean age, 63 years ± 18; 30 males) were included. The SNRs for the Qr40 and QIR4 (means ± SDs) were 3.6 ± 1.1 and 4.1 ± 1.2, respectively, significantly higher than others (P < 0.05). The scores for overall image quality were 4 [4-5], 3 [3-4], and 2 [2-3], and those for sharpness were 4 [3-5], 3 [3-3], and 2 [1-3] for PCD-UHR, PCD-STD, and EID-STD, respectively (all, P < 0.05). Those for noise were 3 [3-4], 4 [3-4], and 2 [2-2], the SDs were 6.6 ± 1.6, 5.4 ± 0.8, and 8.8 ± 1.7, SNRs were 5.0 ± 1.4, 6,1 ± 1.2, and 3.5 ± 1.6, and CNRs were 5.6 ± 1.9, 7.9 ± 1.7, and 4.4 ± 1.8, respectively (between either of the PCD groups and EID-STD, P < 0.05).
PCD-CT showed superior delineation for brachial plexus to EID-CT.
探讨使用光子计数探测器CT（PCD-CT）改善臂丛神经显示情况。
这项回顾性研究纳入了2023年3月至12月接受颈部CT检查的患者。为评估PCD-CT中的最佳重建条件，对使用各种定量常规（Qr）内核和量子迭代重建（QIR）强度的图像上的信噪比（SNR）进行了评估。接下来，比较了PCD-CT的超高分辨率模式（PCD-UHR）、PCD-CT的标准模式（PCD-STD）和能量积分探测器CT的标准模式（EID-STD）分别对20例患者所获得的图像在臂丛神经显示方面的情况。使用5分制李克特量表对清晰度、噪声和整体图像质量进行定性评估。对标准差（SD）、SNR和对比噪声比（CNR）进行定量评估。
总体而言，共纳入60例患者（平均年龄63岁±18岁；男性30例）。Qr40和QIR4的SNR（均值±标准差）分别为3.6±1.1和4.1±1.2，显著高于其他值（P<0.05）。PCD-UHR、PCD-STD和EID-STD的整体图像质量评分分别为4[4 - 5]、3[3 - 4]和2[2 - 3]，清晰度评分分别为4[3 - 5]、3[3 - 3]和2[1 - 3]（均P<0.05）。噪声评分分别为3[3 - 4]、4[3 - 4]和2[2 - 2]，SD分别为6.6±1.6、5.4±0.8和8.8±1.7，SNR分别为5.0±1.4、6.1±1.2和3.5±1.6，CNR分别为5.6±1.9、7.9±1.7和4.4±1.8（PCD组中的任何一组与EID-STD之间，P<0.05）。
PCD-CT在臂丛神经显示方面比EID-CT表现更优。
