title: Use of non-linear image blending with dual-energy CT improves vascular visualization in abdominal angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the image quality of dual-energy abdominal computed tomography (DECT) angiography (CTA) with a non-linear image blending technique as compared with the linear image blending technique and standard single-energy CT (SECT; 120 kVp SECT) imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients underwent dual-source, dual-energy abdominal CTA (80 kVp/140 kVp mode) in the arterial phase to generate non-linear image blending and 0.5 linear image blending images. Abdominal vessel enhancement, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were evaluated and compared to the conventional 120 kVp SECT image sets (n = 29) using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni adjustment. Two radiologists assessed subjective vessel enhancement in consensus. The effective dose was calculated and compared using Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The non-linear image blending images were ranked highest (over 0.5 linear image blending and 120 kVp SECT images) regarding mean vascular attenuation, CNR, SNR, and subjective image quality evaluation (p-values ranging from <0.001-0.021). However, there was no significant difference in renal artery branch visualization among the three sets of images (p = 0.405). Linear image blending images showed improved vascular attenuation (p = 0.011) as compared with 120 kVp SECT images, but displayed similar results regarding CNRs (p = 0.045) and SNRs (p = 0.053). The effective radiation dose for the DECT protocol was much lower than the SECT protocol (p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The non-linear image blending technique of 80 kVp/140 kVp DECT improved vascular visualization by improving contrast enhancement in abdominal CTA during the arterial phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Siemens Healthcare China, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. Electronic address: jianbogao0307@163.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000098:blood supply*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol