Purpose: Dedicated post-processing of dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) datasets has been shown to allow for increased vascular contrast. The goal of our study was to define optimal window settings for displaying virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) reconstructed from dual-energy carotid and cerebrovascular DE-CTA. Methods: Fifty-seven patients who underwent clinically-indicated carotid and cerebrovascular third-generation dual-source DE-CTA were retrospectively evaluated. Standard linearly-blended (M_0.6), 70-keV traditional VMI (M70), and 40-keV noise-optimized VMI (M40+) reconstructions were analyzed. For M70 and M40+ datasets, the subjectively best window setting (width and level, B–W/L) was independently determined by two observers and subsequently related with aortic arch attenuation to calculate optimized values (O–W/L) using linear regression. Subjective evaluation of image quality (IQ) between W/L settings were assessed by two additional readers. Repeated measures analysis of variance were performed to compare W/L settings and IQ indices between M_0.6, M70, and M40 +. Results: B–W/L and O–W/L for M70 were 580/210 and 560/200, and for M40+ were 1630/570 and 1560/550, respectively, higher than standard DE-CTA W/L settings (450/100). Highest subjective scores were observed for M40+ regarding overall IQ (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Application of O–W/L settings is mandatory to optimize subjective IQ of VMI reconstructions of DE-CTA.

Carotid and cerebrovascular dual-energy computed tomography angiography. Optimization of window settings for virtual monoenergetic imaging reconstruction / D'Angelo, T.; Lenga, L.; Arendt, C. T.; Bucher, A. M.; Peterke, J. L.; Caruso, D.; Mazziotti, S.; Ascenti, G.; Blandino, A.; Othman, A. E.; Martin, S. S.; Albrecht, M. H.; Bodelle, B.; Vogl, T. J.; Wichmann, J. L.. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY. - ISSN 0720-048X. - 130:(2020), pp. 1-7. [10.1016/j.ejrad.2020.109166]

Carotid and cerebrovascular dual-energy computed tomography angiography. Optimization of window settings for virtual monoenergetic imaging reconstruction

Caruso D.;
2020

Abstract

Purpose: Dedicated post-processing of dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) datasets has been shown to allow for increased vascular contrast. The goal of our study was to define optimal window settings for displaying virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) reconstructed from dual-energy carotid and cerebrovascular DE-CTA. Methods: Fifty-seven patients who underwent clinically-indicated carotid and cerebrovascular third-generation dual-source DE-CTA were retrospectively evaluated. Standard linearly-blended (M_0.6), 70-keV traditional VMI (M70), and 40-keV noise-optimized VMI (M40+) reconstructions were analyzed. For M70 and M40+ datasets, the subjectively best window setting (width and level, B–W/L) was independently determined by two observers and subsequently related with aortic arch attenuation to calculate optimized values (O–W/L) using linear regression. Subjective evaluation of image quality (IQ) between W/L settings were assessed by two additional readers. Repeated measures analysis of variance were performed to compare W/L settings and IQ indices between M_0.6, M70, and M40 +. Results: B–W/L and O–W/L for M70 were 580/210 and 560/200, and for M40+ were 1630/570 and 1560/550, respectively, higher than standard DE-CTA W/L settings (450/100). Highest subjective scores were observed for M40+ regarding overall IQ (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Application of O–W/L settings is mandatory to optimize subjective IQ of VMI reconstructions of DE-CTA.
2020
carotid disease; computed tomography; computed tomography angiography; dual-energy; image postprocessing
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Carotid and cerebrovascular dual-energy computed tomography angiography. Optimization of window settings for virtual monoenergetic imaging reconstruction / D'Angelo, T.; Lenga, L.; Arendt, C. T.; Bucher, A. M.; Peterke, J. L.; Caruso, D.; Mazziotti, S.; Ascenti, G.; Blandino, A.; Othman, A. E.; Martin, S. S.; Albrecht, M. H.; Bodelle, B.; Vogl, T. J.; Wichmann, J. L.. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY. - ISSN 0720-048X. - 130:(2020), pp. 1-7. [10.1016/j.ejrad.2020.109166]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1485878
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