title: [Comparison of head dual energy computed tomography angiography and neuro digital subtraction angiography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the advantages and disadvantages of dual energy with dual-source computed tomography (CT) in cerebral angiography by comparing those of neuro-digital subtraction angiography (Neuro-DSA) .
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 300 patients with normal CT angiography (CTA) images underwent dual energy CT angiography (DE-CTA groups, n=200) and Neuro-DSA scan (Neuro-DSA groups, n=100) using dual source CT. The comparison of two scan approaches was based on image quality, radiation does, post-processing methods, and duration of scanning and subtraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The image quality of intracranial blood vessels in DE-CTA group showed no significant difference with that in Neuro-DSA group (P>0.05) , while the number of Grade I images was significantly higher than those of other three grades (P<0.01) . However, the effect of the skull base bone removal with Neuro-DSA is superior to DE-CTA (P<0.01) . The duration of scanning was significantly longer in DE-CTA group than in Neuro-DSA group (P<0.01) . However, the radiation dose, time of entire examination, and time of subtraction were significantly lower/shorter in DE-CTA group than in Neuro-DSA group (P<0.01) . The radiation dose of DE-CTA group is 26.3% lower than Neuro-DSA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The image quality of intracranial blood vessels with head DE-CTA is same as Neuro-DSA, while head DE-CTA has lower radiation doses and higher inspection efficiency than Neuro-DSA. However, the effect of the skull base bone removal needs to be improved.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650032, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Cun-wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult