4.2 Article

Image quality evaluation of iterative model reconstruction on low tube voltage (80 kVp) coronary CT angiography in an animal study

Journal

ACTA RADIOLOGICA
Volume 57, Issue 2, Pages 170-177

Publisher

SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1177/0284185114568909

Keywords

Computed tomography (CT); CT angiography; CT spiral; image manipulation/reconstruction; thorax; heart; technology assessment

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Background: Iterative model reconstruction (IMR) is a newer generation iterative reconstruction method, but its value on coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography requires investigation. Purpose: To evaluate coronary image quality using IMR at a low-tube voltage of 80 kVp on coronary CTangiography in miniature pigs. Material and Methods: Five healthy miniature pigs underwent prospective electrocardiogram-gated coronary 256-slice CTangiography at 120 kVp and 80 kVp tube voltages, respectively. Filtered back projection (FBP) was used to reconstruct the 120 kVp standard-dose (SD) image sets (SD-FBP group), while iDose(4) and IMR were used to reconstruct the 80 kVp low-dose (LD) image sets (LD-iDose(4) and LD-IMR groups). Objective and subjective image qualities were compared among three groups. Results: There were no significant differences in mean CT values of the ascending aorta, left main coronary artery, and right coronary artery between the LD-IMR and LD-iDose(4) groups (P>0.05), but the values were significantly lower in the SD-FBP group than in those two groups (P<0.05). The image noise in the LD-IMR group (21.5 +/- 3.9 HU) was significantly lower than in the LD-iDose(4) (63.7 +/- 9.8 HU) and SD-FBP (50.6 +/- 4.6 HU) groups (P<0.05). The signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios were significantly higher in the LD-IMR group than in the LD-iDose(4) and SD-FBP groups, respectively (P<0.05). Subjective scoring of image noise, streak artifacts, and overall image quality indicated that the LD-IMR group was consistently superior to the LD-iDose 4 and SD-FBP groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: IMR can significantly improve image quality at a low-tube voltage (80 kVp) with a 66% radiation dose reduction on coronary 256-slice CT angiography in miniature pigs.

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