Isotropic CT examination of abdomen and pelvis diagnostic quality of reformat.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the image quality of axial and coronal reformats obtained from isotropic resolution abdomino-pelvic computed tomography (CT) examinations.


METHODS
Thirty consecutive patients with intravenous contrast-enhanced abdomino-pelvic CT examinations (Brilliance 40, Philips Medical Systems, Cleveland, OH) were enrolled for the study. The raw data were reconstructed into two sets of source axial images: 0.9-mm slice widths with 0.45-mm reconstruction interval (isotropic resolution) and 4-mm slice widths with 3-mm reconstruction interval (anisotropic resolution: group A). Isotropic data set was reformatted into axial and coronal stacks (groups B and C, respectively) with 4-mm slice width and 3-mm interval. Three independent readers evaluated stacks A to C using a 3-point scale for resolution of hepatic vessels, edge sharpness of kidneys, respiratory motion artifact, reconstruction artifact, noise, and overall image quality.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference among the groups A to C for vessel resolution, motion artifact, noise, and overall quality. The scores given to group C were significantly lower than those to groups A and B for reconstruction artifacts. There was no difference among groups A to C for overall impression of image quality. The interreader agreements were excellent for axial images (groups A and B) and moderate for coronal reformats.


CONCLUSIONS
Isotropic scanning of the abdomen and pelvis allows creation of reformats with similar image quality as similar thickness axial source images. These reformats are of sufficient quality to form the basis of clinical interpretation.
Sandrasegaran
Kumaresan
K
Department of Radiology, UH 0279, 550 N. University Boulevard, Indiana University School of Medicine, IN 46202, USA. ksandras@iupui.edu
Rydberg
Jonas
J
Akisik
Fatih
F
Hameed
Tariq A
TA
Dunkle
Jeffrey W
JW
D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018934:Fournier Gangrene / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards
D003287:Contrast Media