title: Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the influence of different table feeds on visualization of peripheral arteries in CT angiography of aortoiliac and lower extremity arteries.
abstract: The influence of different table feeds (TF) on vascular enhancement and image quality in patients undergoing lower extremity runoff-CTA for peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD), acute ischemia (AI) or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with PAOD was investigated retrospectively. One hundred eighty-five patients (PAOD: n = 132; AI: n = 40; AAA: n = 13) underwent 16-detector runoff-CTA (120 kV; 140 mAs; rotation time 0.5 s, collimation 16 x 1.5 mm) using different TF (30 mm/s: n = 25; 40 mm/s: n = 91; 48 mm/s: n = 36; 56 mm/s: n = 33). Vascular enhancement of the large arteries was measured every 10 cm along the z-axis from the upper abdomen to the toe. Arterial enhancement in the distal lower leg was compared (ANOVA, Bonferroni post-test). Qualitative assessment of bolus timing was performed independently by two radiologists. The study was IRB approved. In patients with PAOD or AI, enhancement of calf arteries using a TF of 48 mm/s (278 +/- 79 HU) was significantly higher in comparison to two slower TF (30 mm/s: 201 +/- 70 HU, P < 0.001; 40 mm/s: 251 +/- 79 HU, P < 0.05; 56 mm/s: 261 +/- 57 HU, NS) and the fewest noninterpretable arterial segments below the knee were observed with a TF of 48 mm/s (reader 1: 5/121 = 4.1%; reader 2: 4/121 = 3.3%). In patients with AAA, the fewest nondiagnostic segments occurred with a TF of 30 mm/s (2/12 = 17%, both readers) and 40 mm/s (4/24 = 17%, both readers). A TF of 48 mm/s provided the best synchronization of CT data acquisition and contrast bolus propagation and thus the best image quality in patients with PAOD and AI. In patients with AAA, a slower TF of 30 mm/s provided better image quality than faster CT protocols.
authors: Department of Radiology and Nuclear medicine, Charité-University Hospital, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany. Bernhard.Meyer@charite.de
authors: B C
authors: BC
authors: Meyer
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Oldenburg
authors: B B
authors: BB
authors: Frericks
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ribbe
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Hopfenmüller
authors: K-J
authors: KJ
authors: Wolf
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity