Effectuality study of a 3D motion correction algorithm in C-arm CTs of severely impaired image quality during transarterial chemoembolization.

Background: To evaluate effectivity of a 3D-motion correction algorithm in C-Arm CTs (CACT) with limited image quality (IQ) during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: From 1/2015-5/2021, 644 CACTs were performed in patients during TACE. Of these, 27 CACTs in 26 patients (18 m, 8f; 69.7 years ± 10.7 SD) of limited IQ were included. Post-processing of the original raw-data sets (CACT) included application of a 3D-motion correction algorithm and bone segmentation (CACT). Four radiologists (R1-4) compared the images by choosing their preferred dataset and recommending repeat acquisition in case of severe IQ-impairment. R1,2 performed additional grading of intrahepatic vessel visualization, presence/extent of movement artifacts, and overall IQ.

Results: R1,2 demonstrated excellent interobserver agreement for overall IQ (ICC 0.79,p < 0.01) and the five-point vessel visualization scale before and after post-processing of the datasets (ICC 0.78,p < 0.01). Post-processing caused significant improvement, with overall IQ improving from 2.63 (CACT) to 1.39 (CACT;p < 0.01) and a decrease in the mean distance of identifiable, subcapsular vessels to the liver capsule by 4 mm (p < 0.01). This proved especially true for datasets with low parenchymal and high hepatic artery contrast. A good interobserver agreement (ICC = 0.73) was recorded concerning the presence of motion artifacts, with significantly less discernible motion after post-processing (CACT:1.31 ± 1.67, CACT:1.00 ± 1.34, p < 0.01). Of the 27 datasets, ≥ 23 CACT were preferred, with identical datasets chosen by the readers to show benefit from the algorithm.

Conclusion: Application of a 3D-motion correction algorithm significantly improved IQ in diagnostically limited CACTs during TACE, with the potential to decrease repeat acquisitions.