title: In Vitro Comparison of Second- and Third-generation Dual-source CT for Coronary Stent Visualization at Different Tube Potentials.
abstract: The study aimed to evaluate in vitro stent lumen visibility of coronary stents in a second- and third-generation dual-source computed tomography (CT) system at 100 and 120 kVp tube potential.
  
  
  
  Twenty-six coronary stents ranging from 2.25 to 4.0 mm in diameter were implanted in a coronary vessel phantom. Scans were performed at 100 and 120 kVp tube potential. Evaluation was performed using a medium-sharp kernel in both systems (B46f in the second-generation and Bv49 in the third-generation model) and a sharp (Bv59) convolution kernel optimized for vascular imaging in the third-generation CT.
  
  
  
  The median visible stent lumen diameter in the second-generation system was higher at 120 kVp with a median of 62.0% compared to 56.3% at 100 kVp (P < 0.001). The median visible diameter in the third-generation system was significantly higher applying the Bv49 kernel with 66.7% at 120 kVp and 61.1% at 100 kVp (both P < 0.001). When applying the Bv59 kernel, visible stent lumen further increased to 69.3% at 120 kVp and 66.7% at 100 kVp. Additionally, stent lumen was assessed using full width at half maximum, resulting in a comparable increase in luminal diameter at corresponding tube potential.
  
  
  
  Third-generation dual-source CT provides superior stent lumen visibility at equivalent tube potential and at reduced tube potential of 100 kVp when compared to 120 kVp in a second-generation system, at least when manually assessed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, Germany. Electronic address: gassenmaie_t@ukw.de.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gassenmaier
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petri
authors.affiliation: Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Allmendinger
authors.affiliation: Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flohr
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petritsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Voelker
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bley
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: CT angiography; Multislice computed tomography; artifacts; coronary angiography; stents