High-definition computed tomography for coronary artery stents imaging: Initial evaluation of the optimal reconstruction algorithm.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo performance of four image reconstruction algorithms in a high-definition CT (HDCT) scanner with improved spatial resolution for the evaluation of coronary artery stents and intrastent lumina.


METHODS
Thirty-nine consecutive patients with a total of 71 implanted coronary stents underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA) on a HDCT (Discovery CT 750 HD; GE Healthcare) with the high-resolution scanning mode. Four different reconstruction algorithms (HD-stand, HD-detail; HD-stand-plus; HD-detail-plus) were applied to reconstruct the stented coronary arteries. Image quality for stent characterization was assessed. Image noise and intrastent luminal diameter were measured. The relationship between the measurement of inner stent diameter (ISD) and the true stent diameter (TSD) and stent type were analysed.


RESULTS
The stent-dedicated kernel (HD-detail) offered the highest percentage (53.5%) of good image quality for stent characterization and the highest ratio (68.0±8.4%) of visible stent lumen/true stent lumen for luminal diameter measurement at the expense of an increased overall image noise. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the ISD and TSD measurement and spearman correlation coefficient between the ISD measurement and stent type were 0.83 and 0.48, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with standard reconstruction algorithms, high-definition CT imaging technique with dedicated high-resolution reconstruction algorithm provides more accurate stent characterization and intrastent luminal diameter measurement.
Department of Radiology, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, No 69, Yongding Road, Beijing 100039, China. Electronic address: mmayzy2008@126.com.
Xiaoming
X
Cui
Department of Radiology, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, No 69, Yongding Road, Beijing 100039, China. Electronic address: litaofeivip@163.com.
Tao
T
Li
Department of Radiology, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, No 69, Yongding Road, Beijing 100039, China. Electronic address: lx0803@sina.com.cn.
Xin
X
Li
Department of Radiology, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, No 69, Yongding Road, Beijing 100039, China. Electronic address: wangxue0606@gmail.com.
Weihua
W
Zhou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
CT angiography; Computed tomography; Coronary stents; High definition