3D Landmark scout imaging accurately assesses presence and extent of coronary calcification with lower radiation exposure.

Background: Cardiac CT for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring exposes patients to 1 ​mSv of radiation. A new CT scout method utilizing ultra-low dose CT (3D Landmark) offers tomographic cross-sectional imaging, which provides axial images from which CAC can be estimated. The purpose of our study is to analyze the association between estimated CAC burden on 3D Landmark scout imaging vs dedicated ECG-gated CACS.

Ultra-low dose chest CT with silver filter and deep learning reconstruction significantly reduces radiation dose and retains quantitative information in the investigation and monitoring of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

Purpose: Frequent CT scans to quantify lung involvement in cystic lung disease increases radiation exposure. Beam shaping energy filters can optimize imaging properties at lower radiation dosages. The aim of this study is to investigate whether use of SilverBeam filter and deep learning reconstruction algorithm allows for reduced radiation dose chest CT scanning in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

A Noninvasive Assessment of Flow Based on Contrast Dispersion in Computed Tomography Angiography: A Computational and Experimental Phantom Study.

Transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG), defined as the gradient of the contrast agent attenuation drop along the vessel, is an imaging biomarker that indicates stenosis in the coronary arteries. The transluminal attenuation flow encoding (TAFE) equation is a theoretical platform that quantifies blood flow in each coronary artery based on computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging. This formulation couples TAG (i.

Ultra-Small Lung Cysts Impair Diffusion Without Obstructing Air Flow in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung disease found primarily in women of childbearing age, characterized by the formation of air-filled cysts, which may be associated with reductions in lung function. An experimental, regional ultra-high resolution CT scan identified an additional volume of cysts relative to standard chest CT imaging, which consisted primarily of ultra-small cysts.

Research Question: What is the impact of these ultra-small cysts on the pulmonary function of patients with LAM?

Study Design And Methods: A group of 103 patients with LAM received pulmonary function tests and a CT examination in the same visit.

Morphology and chemical identity of periarticular and vascular calcification in a patient with the rare genetic disease of arterial calcification due to deficiency of CD73 (ACDC).

A 54-year old female patient with the genetic disease of arterial calcification due to deficiency of CD73 was studied under the Undiagnosed Disease Program of the National Institutes of Health. She presented with symptoms of claudication in her 40s and later developed arthritic symptoms, ectopic calcification in her left hand and severe arterial calcifications of the lower extremities. Since little was known about the composition of the calcifications in arterial calcification due to deficiency of CD73, we investigated their chemical identity and microscopic morphology in this patient with imaging and x-ray diffraction analysis.

Performance of single-energy metal artifact reduction in cardiac computed tomography: A clinical and phantom study.

Background: To investigate the performance of a reconstruction algorithm, single-energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR), against standard reconstruction in cardiac computed tomography (CT) studies of patients with implanted metal and in a defibrillator lead phantom.

Methods: From a retrospective, cross-sectional clinical study with institutional review board approval of 118 patients with implanted metal, 122 cardiac CT studies from November 2009 to August 2016 performed on a 320-detector row scanner with standard and SEMAR reconstructions were included. The maximum beam hardening artifact radius, artifact attenuation variation surrounding the implanted metal, and image quality on a 4-point scale (1-no/minimal artifact to 4-severe artifact) were assessed for each reconstruction.

Clinical CT underestimation of the percentage volume occupied by cysts in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of cyst score measurements by standard high-resolution helical volume chest CT (HRCT) in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), using a short z-length ultra-high resolution re-scan (UH re-scan) as the reference. In cystic lung diseases, cyst score is derived from CT scans and defined as the percentage of the total lung parenchymal volume occupied by cysts, a biomarker which measures the severity of the disease.

Methods: In a prospective study of 73 LAM patients, each patient received the standard HRCT chest scan and a short z-length UH re-scan.

Prototype Ultrahigh-Resolution Computed Tomography for Chest Imaging: Initial Human Experience.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate a prototype, ultrahigh-resolution computed tomography offering higher reconstruction matrix (1024 × 1024) and spatial resolution (0.15 mm) for chest imaging.

Methods: Higher (1024) matrix reconstruction enabled by ultrahigh-resolution computed tomography scanner (128-detector rows; detector width, 0.

Reduced radiation dose with model based iterative reconstruction coronary artery calcium scoring.

Assessing coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a valuable tool for individualizing cardiac risk assessment. In CAC scanning, this technical report assesses the use of a true model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm using forward projected model-based iterative reconstruction ("FIRST") and assess whether FIRST allows for reduced radiation dose CAC scanning on 320-detector row computed tomography (320-CT). Here, 100 consecutive patients prospectively underwent reduced and standard dose scans.

Chest CT Scan at Radiation Dose of a Posteroanterior and Lateral Chest Radiograph Series: A Proof of Principle in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Background: Given the rising utilization of medical imaging and the risks of radiation, there is increased interest in reducing radiation exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate, as a proof of principle, CT scans performed at radiation doses equivalent to that of a posteroanterior and lateral chest radiograph series in the cystic lung disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

Methods: From November 2016 to May 2018, 105 consecutive subjects with LAM received chest CT scans at standard and ultra-low radiation doses.

Feasibility of low radiation dose retrospectively-gated cardiac CT for functional analysis in adult congenital heart disease.

Background: The use of cardiac computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of adult congenital heart disease patients is limited due to concerns of high radiation doses. The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess whether low radiation dose cardiac CT is feasible to evaluate ventricular systolic function in adults with congenital heart disease.

Methods: The study group included 30 consecutive patients with significant congenital heart disease who underwent a total of 35 ECG-gated cardiac CT scans utilizing a 320-detector row CT scanner.