Comparison of coronary artery calcium screening image quality between C-150 and e-Speed electron beam scanners.
OBJECTIVE
The newest generation of electron beam tomographic scanner (e-Speed) has increased spatial and temporal resolution compared with the C-150 XP scanner. The aim of this study was to evaluate coronary artery calcium screening image quality between the e-Speed and C-150 scanners (GE Imatron, San Francisco, CA).


METHODS
Studies from 41 patients (14 women and 27 men) who underwent serial coronary artery calcium screening with the C-150 (first study) and the e-Speed (second study) were analyzed. Individual computed tomography (CT) slices were assessed for coronary artery motion artifacts, and CT Hounsfield units (HU) and noise values (CT HU standard deviation) at 16 discrete cardiac sites were measured and averaged.


RESULTS
With the e-Speed scanner, there were significant decreases in right coronary artery motion artifacts compared with the C-150 scanner (0.3% versus 1.8%, P < .001) as well as decreased noise values (24.3 versus 32.0 HU, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Image quality is significantly improved with use of the e-Speed scanner, due to its improved temporal and spatial resolution, compared with the C-150 scanner.
Budoff
Matthew J
MJ
Division of Cardiology, Harbor-UCLA Research and Education Institute, 1124 W. Carson Street, RB2, Torrance, California 90502, USA. mbudoff@rei.edu
Shinbane
Jerold S
JS
Oudiz
Ronald J
RJ
Child
Janis
J
Carson
Sivi
S
Chau
Alex
A
Tseng
Philip
P
Gao
Yanlin
Y
Mao
Songshou
S
D016477:Artifacts; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods