title: High-pitch dual-source CT angiography of the whole aorta without ECG synchronisation: initial experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility, image quality and radiation dose for high-pitch dual-source CT angiography (CTA) of the whole aorta without ECG synchronisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each group of 40 patients underwent CTA either on a 16-slice (group 1) or dual-source CT device with conventional single-source (group 2) or high-pitch mode with a pitch of 3.0 (group 3). The presence of motion or stair-step artefacts of the thoracic aorta was independently assessed by two readers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjective and objective scoring of motion and artefacts were significantly reduced in the high-pitch examination protocol (p < 0.05). The imaging length was not significantly different, but the imaging time was significantly (p < 0.001) shorter in the high-pitch group (12.2 vs. 7.4 vs. 1.7 s for groups 1, 2 and 3). The ascending aorta and the coronary ostia were reliably evaluable in all patients of group 3 without motion artefacts as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-pitch dual-source CT angiography of the whole aorta is feasible in unselected patients. As a significant advantage over regular pitch protocols, motion-free imaging of the aorta is possible without ECG synchronisation. Thus, this CT mode bears potential to become a standard CT protocol before trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Clinic of the Goethe University, Haus 23C UG, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany. beeres@gmx.net
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beeres
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schell
authors.forename: Aristidis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mastragelopoulos
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Josef Matthias
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kerl
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gruber-Rouh
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siebenhandl
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bodelle
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zangos
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jacobi
authors.forename: Ralf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016477:Artifacts; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods