title: Spiral CT vs incremental CT: is spiral CT superior in imaging of the brain?
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate image quality of spiral CT of the brain as compared with incremental CT using identical scanning parameters. Incremental or spiral cranial CT was performed on 46 consecutive, randomized patients with non-traumatic disease of the brain on a Siemens (Erlangen, Germany) Somatom Plus 4. Evaluation was done in a randomized blinded way by two experienced radiologists. Different anatomical structures, image noise, and artifacts were scaled 1 (bad) to 4 (very good). Statistical analysis was done using the F-test of variance for partial sums of squares as well as Student's t-test. Incremental CT was superior to spiral CT for evaluation of the internal capsule, supratentorial artifacts, gray/white matter differentiation, and image noise. No statistically significant differences were seen for evaluation of the pons, infratentorial artifacts, and eye muscles. With identical scanning parameters incremental CT is superior to spiral CT in the assessment of small, complex structures in a low-contrast setting. No differences are seen for larger structures or small structures in a medium-contrast range. Artifacts localized close to the skull in spiral CT can easily mimic hemorrhage in traumatized patients. Spiral CT should therefore only be used for CT angiography and if 3D reconstructions are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69 120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bahner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reith
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zuna
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Engenhart-Cabillic
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Kaick
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011149:Pons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*