Thoracic aorta at multi-detector row CT: motion artifact with various reconstruction windows.
The authors assessed motion artifact of the thoracic aorta in 25 patients who underwent multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) with retrospective electrocardiographic (ECG) gating. CT reconstructions centered at four phases of diastole were compared for five different levels of the thoracic aorta. A significant positive correlation was observed between heart rate and motion artifact (r = 0.72, P <.001). The optimal reconstruction phase varied between patients, and this was directly related to heart rate. For patients with a heart rate of 70 beats per minute, the reconstruction phase centered at 75% of the R-R interval had the significantly least motion artifact (P =.004). Conversely, the optimal reconstruction phase for patients with heart rates above 70 beats per minute was centered at 50% of the R-R interval (P =.09).
Morgan-Hughes
Gareth J
GJ
Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, South West Cardiothoracic Centre, Plymouth NHS Trust, Derriford Rd, Plymouth PL6 8DH, England. hughesgj@talk21.com
Owens
Patrick E
PE
Marshall
Andrew J
AJ
Roobottom
Carl A
CA
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016477:Artifacts; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*