Virtual Monochromatic Images from Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Do Not Improve the Detection of Synovitis in Hand Arthritis.

Diagnostics (Basel)

Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.

Published: August 2022

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of different imaging techniques using dual-energy CT to detect inflammation related to hand arthritis.
  • The research included 35 patients who underwent both CT scans and ultrasound, with findings from ultrasound serving as the benchmark for comparison.
  • The results showed that 70 keV images were most accurate and sensitive for detecting inflammation, while lower energy monochromatic images did not enhance diagnosis and compromised image quality.

Article Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate subtraction images from different polychromatic and virtual monochromatic reconstructions of dual-energy computed tomography (CT) for the detection of inflammation (synovitis/tenosynovitis or peritendonitis) in patients with hand arthritis. In this IRB-approved prospective study, 35 patients with acute hand arthritis underwent contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT and musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) of the clinically dominant hand. CT subtractions (CT-S) were calculated from 80 and 135 kVp source data and monochromatic 50 and 70 keV images. CT-S and MSUS were scored for synovitis and tenosynovitis/peritendonitis. Specificity, sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy were assessed by using MSUS as a reference. Parameters of objective image quality were measured. Thirty-three patients were analyzed. MSUS was positive for synovitis and/or tenosynovitis/peritendonitis in 28 patients. The 70 keV images had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with 88% (vs. 50 keV, 82%; 80 kVp, 85%; and 135 kVp, 82%), and superior sensitivity, with 96% (vs. 50 keV: 86%, 80 kVp: 93% and 135 kVp: 79%). The 80 kVp images showed the highest signal- and contrast-to-noise ratio, while the 50 keV images provided the lowest image quality. While all subtraction methods of contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT proved to be able to detect inflammation with sufficient diagnostic accuracy, virtual monochromatic images with low keV showed no significant improvement over conventional subtraction techniques and lead to a loss of image quality.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9406820PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12081891DOI Listing

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