title: Evaluation of different keV-settings in dual-energy CT angiography of the aorta using advanced image-based virtual monoenergetic imaging.
abstract: To compare quantitative image quality in dual-energy CT angiography (DE-CTA) studies of the aorta using different virtual monoenergetic imaging (MEI) and advanced image-based virtual monoenergetic (MEI+) settings at varying kiloelectron volt (keV) levels. Fifty consecutive patients with clinically-indicated CT of the whole aorta to evaluate suspected aortic disease underwent DE-CTA on a third-generation dual-source CT scanner. Quantitative image quality indices were assessed. Contrast material, saline flush and flow rate were kept equal for optimum comparability. DE-CTA MEI and MEI+ series ranging from 40 to 100 keV (10-keV intervals) were reconstructed. Signal intensity, noise, signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of multiple aortic segments were evaluated. Comparisons between the different MEI and MEI+ datasets were performed. Three-hundred aortic segments total were evaluated. In the MEI+ series the 40, 50 and 100 keV MEI+ showed superior noise and CNR levels (+84, +58, +103 % on average; all p < 0.05) compared to MEI. However, signal intensity between MEI+ and MEI at nearly all aortic segments showed no significant difference (p > 0.1). MEI+ shows lower image noise compared to MEI, resulting in superior quantitative image quality, in particular at low keV levels (40 or 50 keV).
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.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5625-7196
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beeres
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Clinic of the Goethe University, Haus 23C UG, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. jeskotrommer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jesko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trommer
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Clinic of the Goethe University, Haus 23C UG, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. c.frellesen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frellesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Clinic of the Goethe University, Haus 23C UG, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. Nour410@hotmail.com.|Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Cairo University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Nour410@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nour-Eldin A
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Nour-Eldin
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Clinic of the Goethe University, Haus 23C UG, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. jan.scholtz@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Scholtz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Clinic of the Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. Herrmann@Med.Uni-Frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Clinic of the Goethe University, Haus 23C UG, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. T.Vogl@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Clinic of the Goethe University, Haus 23C UG, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. docwichmann@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Julian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wichmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Aorta; CT angiography; Dual energy CT; Image noise; Virtual monoenergetic imaging