320-slice CT neuroimaging: initial clinical experience and image quality evaluation.
The aim of this study was to report initial clinical experience with a 320-slice CT scanner and to perform an image quality evaluation. 26 patients with presumptive cerebrovascular pathology underwent 320-slice CT. Single-rotation CT of the head, incremental CT angiography (three-dimensional (3D) CTA) as well as four-dimensional whole-brain CTA (4D CTA) and whole-brain CT perfusion (CTP) were performed and the resulting images were assessed for quality and compared with those obtained with 64-slice CT protocols. 320-slice CT neuroimaging could be performed in all cases. The image quality of 320-slice CT of the head and 3D CTA was inferior to that of the 64-slice protocols. The image quality of 4D 320-slice CTA was rated as inferior to both 320- and 64-slice 3D CTA. 4D CTA-CTP imaging added information with pivotal clinical implications. 320-slice CT neuroimaging is feasible technique that permits whole-brain 4D imaging and has the potential to identify pathologies with altered haemodynamics. However, image quality is a limitation of this technique at present.
Siebert
E
E
Department of Neuroradiology, Charité Universitary Medicine, Berlin, Germany. eberhard.siebert@charite.de
Bohner
G
G
Dewey
M
M
Masuhr
F
F
Hoffmann
K T
KT
Mews
J
J
Engelken
F
F
Bauknecht
H C
HC
Diekmann
S
S
Klingebiel
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000592:standards*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*