title: Non-linear blending of dual-energy CT data improves depiction of late iodine enhancement in chronic myocardial infarction.
abstract: To compare non-linear and linear blending of cardiac dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) for optimal visualization of late iodine enhancement (LIE) in patients with chronic myocardial infarction (CMI). LIE-DECT data from 20 patients with known CMI were retrospectively analyzed. Images were reconstructed using non-linear blending center and width settings in the range of 0-500. Linear blending was performed with weighting factors 0.8 (80% 100 kV, 20% 140 kV), 0.6 and 0.3. 100-/140-kV data and blended images were analyzed. Contrast and percentage signal differences between infarcted and healthy myocardium and the left ventricle blood pool were computed. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc t tests. Non-linear blending showed the highest signal differences for all contrasts and analyses. Repeated-measures ANOVA tests confirmed the statistical differences between the investigated blending techniques (P < 0.01). Paired-samples post hoc t tests confirmed the significance of these results (P < 0.04). The ideal non-linear blending settings for best demarcation of CMI from healthy myocardium were a center of 65.8 ± 23.2 and a width of 0.0 ± 0.0. Non-linear blending of LIE-DECT improves display of LIE in patients with CMI in comparison with linear blending and non-post-processed image data from 100-/140-kV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, docwichmann@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Julian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: Xiaohan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: J Matthias
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kerl
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bodelle
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frellesen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: Ralf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol