title: Simultaneous achievement of accurate CT number and image quality improvement for myocardial perfusion CT at 320-MDCT volume scanning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate differences in image-to-image variations between full- and half-scan reconstruction on myocardial CT perfusion (CTP) study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a cardiac phantom we performed ECG-gated myocardial CTP on a second-generation 320-multidetector CT volume scanner. The heart rate was set at 60 bpm; once per second for a total of 24 s were performed. CT images were acquired at 80- and 120 kVp and subjected to full- and half-scan reconstruction. On images acquired at the same slice level we then measured image-to-image variations, coefficients of variance (CV), and image noise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The image-to-image variations with full- and half-scan reconstruction were 1.3 HU vs. 27.2 HU at 80 kVp (p < 0.001) and 0.70 HU vs. 9.3 HU at 120 kVp (p < 0.001) even though the mean HU value was almost the same for both reconstruction methods. The CV of 80- and 120-kVp images of the left ventricular cavity decreased by 0.16% and 0.17%, respectively, with full-scan reconstruction; with half-scan reconstruction it decreased by 3.34% and 2.30%, respectively. Compared with half-scan reconstruction, the image noise was reduced by 27.2% at 80 kVp and by 28.0% at 120 kVp with full-scan reconstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myocardial CTP with full-scan reconstruction substantially decreased image-to-image variations and provided accurate CT attenuation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: funama@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Funama
authors.affiliation: The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Seitaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kumamoto University Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimonobo
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kidoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: 320-Detector volume scanner; Full-scan reconstruction; Half-scan reconstruction; Image-to-image variation; Myocardial CT perfusion