Predicting the image noise level of prospective ECG-triggered coronary computed tomography angiography: quantitative measurement of thoracic component versus body mass index.
We evaluated the feasibility of using quantitatively measured thoracic components, as compared to body mass index (BMI), for predicting the image noise of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). One hundred subjects (M:F = 64:36; mean age, 55 ± 8.8 years) who underwent prospective electrocardiography-gated CCTA and low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) were analyzed retrospectively. The image noise of the CCTA was determined by the standard deviation of the attenuation value in a region of interest on the aortic root level. On the low-dose chest CT, the areas of the thoracic components were measured at the aortic root level. An auto-segmentation technique with the following threshold levels was used: quantitatively measured area of total thorax [QMAtotal: -910 to 1000 Hounsfield units (HU)], lung (QMAlung: -910 to -200 HU), fat (QMAfat: -200 to 0 HU), muscle (QMAmuscle: 0-300 HU), soft tissue (fat + muscle, QMAsoft tissue: -200 to 300 HU), bone (QMAbone: 300-1000 HU) and solid tissue (fat + muscle + bone, QMAsolid tissue: -200 to 1000 HU). The relationship between image noise and variable biometric parameters including QMA was analyzed, and the linear correlation coefficients were used as indicators of the strength of association. Among the variable biometric parameters, including BMI, QMAsolid tissue showed the highest correlation coefficient with image noise in all subjects (r = 0.804), males (r = 0.716), females (r = 0.889), the overweight (r = 0.556), and the non-overweight subgroups (r = 0.783). QMAsolid tissue can be used as a potential surrogate predictor of the image noise level in low tube voltage CCTA.
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyeongmin
H
Kim
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. park_chulhwan@yuhs.ac.
Chul Hwan
CH
Park
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kyung Hwa
KH
Han
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Tae Hoon
TH
Kim
D001331:Automation; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
Body mass index; Coronary vessels; Noise; Radiation dosage; Tomography X-ray computed