title: MULTICENTRE COMPARISON OF IMAGE QUALITY FOR LOW-CONTRAST OBJECTS AND MICROCATHETER TIPS IN X-RAY-GUIDED TREATMENT OF ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION IN THE BRAIN.
abstract: The treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can be performed as a minimally invasive X-ray-guided procedure using a microcatheter for navigation to reach the target site. The performance of the interventional vascular surgery devices used for AVM was compared in four hospitals. The relation between image quality and the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was assessed for the default protocols for digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and fluoroscopy. A custom phantom, built with PMMA and aluminium plates was used to mimic the attenuation properties of the patient head. Image quality was assessed using low-contrast objects and catheters embedded in two phantoms. Differences were found in the ESAK values, especially for the fluoroscopy, whereas for DSA, the ESAK values were similar. The differences in image quality can be related to acquisition parameters, such as kV and filtration, and post-processing. The proposed method can be used to optimise the existing AVM protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands irene.debroglie@gmail.com.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hernández-Girón
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands Radiology Department and Nuclear Medicine, Sint Franciscus Vlietland Group, Kleiweg 500, 3045 PM Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J E M
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mourik
authors.affiliation: Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei, Willy Brandtlaan 10, 6716 RP Ede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Overvelde
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W J H
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Veldkamp
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zweers
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geleijns
mesh_terms: D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D009426:Netherlands; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D062666:Vascular Access Devices