Single source split filter dual energy: Image quality and liver lesion detection in abdominal CT

E., Khedr YI, Soula MA, Ali MA. Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of the Image Quality of MDCT Multiphasic Liver Scans in HCC Patients

Background: The quality of CT images obtained from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is complex, affecting diagnostic accuracy, precision, and radiation dose assessment due to increased exposure risks. Objectives: The study evaluated image quality qualitatively and quantitatively by comparing quality levels with an effective radiation dose to ensure acceptable quality accuracy. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 100 known HCC patients (Li-RADS-5) who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) multiphasic scans for follow-up of their health condition between January and October 2023. The evaluation involved quantitative and qualitative analyses of parameters such as SD, SNR, and CNR, as well as a qualitative assessment by two radiology consultants. The outcomes were compared, and the effective dose was calculated and compared with both quantitative and qualitative assessments of image quality. Results: ROC curve analysis revealed significant differences in CT image quality, with high to moderate specificity and sensitivity across all the quantitative parameters. However, multivariate examination revealed decreasing importance levels, except for CNR (B, 0.203; p = 0.001) and SD BG (B, 0.330; p = 0.002), which increased in B. The CNR and SD BG remained independent variables for CT image quality prediction, but no statistically significant relationship was found between the effective dose and image quality, either quantitatively or qualitatively. Conclusion: This study underscores the vital role of both quantitative and qualitative assessments of CT images in evaluating their quality for patients with HCC and highlights the predictive importance of CNR, SNR, and SD. These findings emphasize the value of these devices in assessing and predicting outcomes to minimize the effective dose.

Personalization of thoracoabdominal CT examinations using scanner integrated clinical decision support systems - Impact on the acquisition technique, scan range, and reconstruction type

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluates the impact of a scanner-integrated, customized clinical decision support system (CDSS) on the acquisition technique, scan range, and reconstruction in thoracoabdominal CT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We applied CDSS in contrast-enhanced examinations of the trunk with various clinical indications on a recent scanner with the capability of dual-energy CT (DECT), anatomic landmark detection (ALD), and iterative metal-artifact reduction (MAR). Simple and comprehensive questions about the patient's breath hold capability, the anatomical region of interest, and metal implants can be answered after the localizer. The acquisition technique (single energy, SECT, or dual energy), scan range (chest-abdomen-pelvis or chest-abdomen), and reconstruction technique (with or without MAR) were then automatically adapted in the examination protocols in coherence with these selections. Retrospectively, we compared the usage rates for these techniques in 624 examinations on the study scanner with 740 examinations on a comparable scanner without CDSS. Subgroup analysis of effective dose (ED), scan duration, and image quality (IQ) was performed in the study group.

RESULTS

CDSS leads to an increased usage rate of DECT (64.4% vs. 2.8%) and MAR (75.4% vs. 44.0%). All scan range adaptations by ALD were successful. The resulting subjective IQ between single energy and DECT acquisitions was comparable (all p > 0.05). Scan duration was significantly longer in DECT than in SECT (16.9 s vs. 6.5 s; p < 0.001). However, the objective IQ was significantly higher in DECT (CNRD 2.1 vs. 1.8; p < 0.01), and the ED significantly lower (6.7 mSv vs. 7.6 mSv; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

CDSS for thoracoabdominal CT leads to a substantially increased usage rate of innovative techniques during acquisition and reconstruction. Patients with adapted protocols benefit from improved image quality and increased post-processing options at lower radiation doses.

Spectral CT in Oncology

BACKGROUND

Spectral CT is gaining increasing clinical importance with multiple potential applications, including oncological imaging. Spectral CT-specific image data offers multiple advantages over conventional CT image data through various post-processing algorithms, which will be highlighted in the following review.

METHODOLOGY

The purpose of this review article is to provide an overview of potential useful oncologic applications of spectral CT and to highlight specific spectral CT pitfalls. The technical background, clinical advantages of primary and follow-up spectral CT exams in oncology, and the application of appropriate spectral tools will be highlighted.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

Spectral CT imaging offers multiple advantages over conventional CT imaging, particularly in the field of oncology. The combination of virtual native and low monoenergetic images leads to improved detection and characterization of oncologic lesions. Iodine-map images may provide a potential imaging biomarker for assessing treatment response.

KEY POINTS

· The most important spectral CT reconstructions for oncology imaging are virtual unenhanced, iodine map, and virtual monochromatic reconstructions.. · The combination of virtual unenhanced and low monoenergetic reconstructions leads to better detection and characterization of the vascularization of solid tumors.. · Iodine maps can be a surrogate parameter for tumor perfusion and potentially used as a therapy monitoring parameter.. · For radiotherapy planning, the relative electron density and the effective atomic number of a tissue can be calculated..

CITATION FORMAT

· Sauerbeck J, Adam G, Meyer M. Onkologische Bildgebung mittels Spektral-CT. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 21 - 29.

Low-dose dual-energy CT for stone characterization: a systematic comparison of two generations of split-filter single-source and dual-source dual-energy CT

PURPOSE

To compare noise texture and accuracy to differentiate uric acid from non-uric acid urinary stones among four different single-source and dual-source DECT approaches in an ex vivo phantom study.

METHODS

Thirty-two urinary stones embedded in gelatin were mounted on a Styrofoam disk and placed into a water-filled phantom. The phantom was imaged using four different DECT approaches: (A) dual-source DECT (DS-DE); (B) 1st generation split-filter single-source DECT (SF1-TB); (C) 2nd generation split-filter single-source DECT (SF2-TB) and (D) 2nd generation split-filter single-source DECT using serial acquisitions (SF2-TS). Two different radiation doses (3 mGy and 6 mGy) were used. Noise texture was compared by assessing the average spatial frequency (f_av) of the normalized noise power spectrum (nNPS). ROC curves for stone classification were computed and the accuracy for different dual-energy ratio cutoffs was derived.

RESULTS

NNPS demonstrated comparable noise texture among A, C, and D (f_av-range 0.18-0.19) but finer noise texture for B (f_av = 0.27). Stone classification showed an accuracy of 96.9%, 96.9%, 93.8%, 93.8% for A, B, C, D for low-dose, respectively, and 100%, 96.9%, 96.9%, 100% for routine dose. The vendor-specified cutoff for the dual-energy ratio was optimal except for the low-dose scan in D for which the accuracy was improved from 93.8 to 100% using an optimized cutoff.

CONCLUSION

Accuracy to differentiate uric acid from non-uric acid stones was high among four single-source and dual-source DECT approaches for low- and routine dose DECT scans. Noise texture differed only slightly for the first-generation split-filter approach.