Dual Energy CT (DECT) Monochromatic Imaging: Added Value of Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstructions (ASIR) in Portal Venography.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of the adaptive statistical iterative reconstructions (ASIR) on image quality in portal venography by dual energy CT (DECT) imaging.


METHODS
DECT scans of 45 cirrhotic patients obtained in the portal venous phase were analyzed. Monochromatic images at 70keV were reconstructed with the following 4 ASIR percentages: 0%, 30%, 50%, and 70%. The image noise (IN) (standard deviation, SD) of portal vein (PV), the contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR), and the subjective score for the sharpness of PV boundaries, and the diagnostic acceptability (DA) were obtained. The IN, CNR, and the subjective scores were compared among the four ASIR groups.


RESULTS
The IN (in HU) of PV (10.05±3.14, 9.23±3.05, 8.44±2.95 and 7.83±2.90) decreased and CNR values of PV (8.04±3.32, 8.95±3.63, 9.80±4.12 and 10.74±4.73) increased with the increase in ASIR percentage (0%, 30%, 50%, and 70%, respectively), and were statistically different for the 4 ASIR groups (p<0.05). The subjective scores showed that the sharpness of portal vein boundaries (3.13±0.59, 2.82±0.44, 2.73±0.54 and 2.07±0.54) decreased with higher ASIR percentages (p<0.05). The subjective diagnostic acceptability was highest at 30% ASIR (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
30% ASIR addition in DECT portal venography could improve the 70 keV monochromatic image quality.
Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Liqin
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1274-5179
L
Zhao
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sebastian
S
Winklhofer
Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Rong
R
Jiang
Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xinlian
X
Wang
Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Wen
W
He
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D015900:Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
D003287:Contrast Media