Influence of contrast material density and kV setting on detectability of calcified plaques on coronary CT angiography.

Purpose: To analyze the impact of tube potential and iodine concentration on the visibility of calcified plaques in coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA).

Methods & Materials: 164 consecutive patients (65.9 % men and a mean age of 57.

Comparison of thick- and thin-slice images in thoracoabdominal trauma CT: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: To compare thick (5 mm) and thin slice images (1.5 mm) of lung, soft tissue, and bone window in thoracoabdominal trauma computed tomography.

Materials And Methods: 167 Patients that underwent thoracoabdominal trauma CT between November 2014 and December 2015 were included in the study.

Case 257: Leiomyosarcoma of the Inferior Vena Cava.

History A 65-year-old woman presented to her primary care physician with a history of progressive abdominal pain mainly in the upper quadrants, nausea, and edema in the bilateral symmetric lower extremities. Other symptoms and use of medication or related drugs were denied. Physical examination findings were normal.

Indication of whole body computed tomography in pediatric polytrauma patients-Diagnostic potential of the Glasgow Coma Scale, the mechanism of injury and clinical examination.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the mechanism of injury (MOI) and clinical examination (CE) for the indication of whole body computed tomography (WBCT) in pediatric polytrauma patients.

Materials & Methods: 100 pediatric polytrauma patients with WBCT were analysed in terms of age, gender, (MOI), GCS, detected injury, FAST, CE and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Correlations between all clinical variables and patient groups with (p+) and without (p-) injury were assessed.

Dual-Energy Computed Tomography-Based Display of Bone Marrow Edema in Incidental Vertebral Compression Fractures: Diagnostic Accuracy and Characterization in Oncological Patients Undergoing Routine Staging Computed Tomography.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of virtual noncalcium (VNCa) dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) reconstructions enabling visualization of bone marrow edema for characterization of incidental thoracolumbar compression fractures in routine thoracoabdominal staging computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 51 oncological patients without suspected fracture or indicative complaints presenting at least 1 thoracolumbar compression fracture on routine thoracoabdominal staging DECT who had been examined between October 2015 and June 2017 using third-generation dual-source CT, had a previous CT within 3 months before, and also had undergone additional magnetic resonance imaging within 14 days, which served as the standard of reference. Three independent and blinded radiologists initially evaluated all vertebrae on conventional grayscale DECT series; after at least 8 weeks, observers reevaluated all cases using grayscale and color-coded VNCa DECT images.

High-pitch dual-source paranasal sinus CT in agitated patients with maxillofacial trauma: analysis of image quality, motion artifacts, and dose aspects.

Background Image quality benefits from high-pitch scanning in agitated patients by reducing acquisition time. Purpose To compare image quality and exposure parameters in patients with maxillofacial trauma on second- and third-generation dual-source computed tomography (DSCT). Material and Methods Four groups were compared.

Automated Attenuation Based Tube Potential Selection of the Lower Extremity Runoff: A Comparison to Fixed Kilovolt with Automated Tube Current Modulation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of automated attenuation-based tube potential selection (ATPS) on image quality and radiation dose exposure parameters at a computed tomography angiography (CTA) lower-extremity runoff.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred forty patients (156 men, 84 women) underwent CTA examinations of the lower-extremity runoff on a second-generation dual-source computed tomography system: 120 patients at a fixed tube potential of 120 kV and a tube current of 180 reference mAs, another 120 patients using automated ATPS. Volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol), dose-length-product (DLP), body diameters, noise, signal-to-noise ratio, and subjective image quality were compared.

Predictive value of perfusion defects on dual energy CTA in the absence of thromboembolic clots.

Background: To determine the predictive value of volumetrically measured lung perfusion defects (PDvol) and right ventricular dysfunction on dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) for predicting all cause mortality in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism (PE) but without evident thromboembolic clot on CTA.

Methods: 448 patients underwent DE-CTA on a 64-channel DSCT system between January 2007 and December 2012 for suspected PE, of which 115 were without detectable thromboembolic clot on CTA. Diagnostic performance for identifying patients at risk of dying was evaluated using ROC analysis.

Single-energy pediatric chest computed tomography with spectral filtration at 100 kVp: effects on radiation parameters and image quality.

Background: Most of the applied radiation dose at CT is in the lower photon energy range, which is of limited diagnostic importance.

Objective: To investigate image quality and effects on radiation parameters of 100-kVp spectral filtration single-energy chest CT using a tin-filter at third-generation dual-source CT in comparison to standard 100-kVp chest CT.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-three children referred for a non-contrast chest CT performed on a third-generation dual-source CT scanner were examined at 100 kVp with a dedicated tin filter with a tube current-time product resulting in standard protocol dose.

Low-dose CT pulmonary angiography on a 15-year-old CT scanner: a feasibility study.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) low-dose (LD) imaging is used to lower radiation exposure, especially in vascular imaging; in current literature, this is mostly on latest generation high-end CT systems.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of reduced tube current on objective and subjective image quality of a 15-year-old 16-slice CT system for pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

Material And Methods: CTPA scans from 60 prospectively randomized patients (28 men, 32 women) were examined in this study on a 15-year-old 16-slice CT scanner system.

Free-breathing high-pitch 80kVp dual-source computed tomography of the pediatric chest: Image quality, presence of motion artifacts and radiation dose.

Objectives: To investigate image quality, presence of motion artifacts and effects on radiation dose of 80kVp high-pitch dual-source CT (DSCT) in combination with an advanced modeled iterative reconstruction algorithm (ADMIRE) of the pediatric chest compared to single-source CT (SSCT).

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board. Eighty-seven consecutive pediatric patients (mean age 9.

Low-dose abdominal computed tomography for detection of urinary stone disease - Impact of additional spectral shaping of the X-ray beam on image quality and dose parameters.

Objectives: To evaluate a novel tin filter-based abdominal CT protocol for urolithiasis in terms of image quality and CT dose parameters.

Methods: 130 consecutive patients with suspected urolithiasis underwent non-enhanced CT with three different protocols: 48 patients (group 1) were examined at tin-filtered 150kV (150kV Sn) on a third-generation dual-source-CT, 33 patients were examined with automated kV-selection (110-140kV) based on the scout view on the same CT-device (group 2), and 49 patients were examined on a second-generation dual-source-CT (group 3) with automated kV-selection (100-140kV). Automated exposure control was active in all groups.

Improved visual delineation of the intimal flap in Stanford type A and B dissections at 3rd generation dual-source high-pitch CT angiography.

Objective: Evaluation of the intimal flap visibility comparing 2nd and 3rd generation dual-source high-pitch CT.

Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients with aortic dissection underwent CT angiography on a second and third generation dual-source CT scanner using prospective ECG-gated high-pitch dual-source CT acquisition mode. Contrast material, saline flush and flow rate were kept equal for optimum comparability.

Noise-optimized advanced image-based virtual monoenergetic imaging for improved visualization of lung cancer: Comparison with traditional virtual monoenergetic imaging.

Purpose: To assess the effect of a noise-optimized image-based virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI+) algorithm in direct comparison with the traditional VMI technique and standard linearly-blended images emulating 120-kVp acquisition (M_0.3) on image quality at dual-energy CT in patients with lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: Dual-source dual-energy CT examinations of 48 patients with biopsy-proven primary (n=31) or recurrent (n=20) lung cancer were evaluated.

Comparative evaluation of non-contrast CAIPIRINHA-VIBE 3T-MRI and multidetector CT for detection of pulmonary nodules: In vivo evaluation of diagnostic accuracy and image quality.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, subjective image quality, and interobserver agreement of non-contrast Controlled Aliasing In Parallel Imaging Results In Higher Acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of pulmonary nodules with intra-individual comparison to computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 54 patients (27 male, 27 female; mean age, 60.8 ± 11.

ECG-gated Versus Non-ECG-gated High-pitch Dual-source CT for Whole Body CT Angiography (CTA).

Rationale And Objectives: To investigate motion artifacts, image quality, and practical differences in electrocardiographic (ECG)-gated versus non-ECG-gated high-pitch dual-source computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the whole aorta.

Materials And Methods: Two groups, each including 40 patients, underwent either ECG-gated or non-ECG-gated high-pitch dual-source CTA of the whole aorta. The aortic annulus, aortic valve, coronary ostia, and the presence of motion artifacts of the thoracic aorta as well as vascular contrast down to the femoral arteries were independently assessed by two readers.

Benefits of sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction in 0.4 mSv ultra-low-dose CT of the upper abdomen following transarterial chemoembolisation: comparison to low-dose and standard-dose CT and filtered back projection technique.

Aim: To evaluate the advantage of sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SIR) compared to filtered back projection (FBP) in upper abdomen computed tomography (CT) after transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) at different tube currents.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Evaluation of different keV-settings in dual-energy CT angiography of the aorta using advanced image-based virtual monoenergetic imaging.

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.

Dual-energy CT of the pancreas: improved carcinoma-to-pancreas contrast with a noise-optimized monoenergetic reconstruction algorithm.

Purpose: To evaluate a novel monoenergetic reconstruction algorithm (nMERA) with improved noise reduction for dual-energy CT (DECT) of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients with suspected pancreatic carcinoma underwent dual-source dual-energy CT with arterial phase. Images were reconstructed as linearly-blended 120-kV series (M_0.

Automated tube voltage adaptation in combination with advanced modeled iterative reconstruction in thoracoabdominal third-generation 192-slice dual-source computed tomography: effects on image quality and radiation dose.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate image quality and radiation exposure of portal venous-phase thoracoabdominal third-generation 192-slice dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) with automated tube voltage adaptation (TVA) in combination with advanced modeled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE).

Materials And Methods: Fifty-one patients underwent oncologic portal venous-phase thoracoabdominal follow-up CT twice within 7 months. The initial examination was performed on second-generation 128-slice DSCT with fixed tube voltage of 120 kV in combination with filtered back projection reconstruction.

Association of aortic root calcification severity with the extent of coronary artery calcification assessed by calcium-scoring dual-source computed tomography.

Purpose: To investigate the association between aortic root calcification (ARC) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) assessed by coronary artery calcium-scoring dual-source computed tomography (DSCT).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 143 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery calcium-scoring during coronary DSCT angiography. 57 patients had findings of ARC on calcium-scoring scans.

Dose levels and image quality of second-generation 128-slice dual-source coronary CT angiography in clinical routine.

Objectives: To compare radiation exposure and image quality of second-generation 128-slice dual-source CT (DSCT) coronary angiography (cCTA) protocols.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from four groups with 25 patients, each examined by one of the following DSCT cCTA protocols: prospectively ECG-gated high-pitch (group 1) or sequential (group 2) acquisition, retrospectively ECG-gated acquisition in dual-energy (DECT, group 3) or dual-source (group 4) mode. CT dose index volume, dose length product, estimated radiation dose, contrast-to-noise- and signal-to-noise-ratios were compared.

First Clinical Evaluation of High-Pitch Dual-Source Computed Tomographic Angiography Comparing Automated Tube Potential Selection With Automated Tube Current Modulation.

Objective: To investigate and compare the use of automated tube potential selection (ATPS) with automated tube current modulation (ATCM) in high-pitch dual-source computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for imaging the whole aorta without electrocardiogram synchronization.

Methods: Two groups of 60 patients underwent CTA on a dual-source computed tomographic device in high-pitch mode: ATCM (with 100-kV fixed tube potential) was used in group 1 and ATPS (with the same image quality options) in group 2. For the evaluation of radiation exposure, CT dose index and dose-length product were analyzed.