Dual energy CT of peripheral arteries: Effect of automatic bone and plaque removal on image quality and grading of stenoses

Automatic lumen segmentation in calcified plaques: dual-energy CT versus standard reconstructions in comparison with digital subtraction angiography

OBJECTIVE

Dual-energy CT has the potential to automatically remove calcified plaques from angiographic data sets. The objective of this study is to compare the accuracy of visual grading of stenoses after plaque removal with visual grading in standard reconstructions. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was used as a reference standard.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Twenty-five patients underwent dual-energy CT (140 kV and 80 mAs; 80 kV and 234 mAs) angiography and DSA. Plaque and bone removal was performed. Twenty-nine calcified stenoses were quantified using standard reconstructions, plaque and bone removal maximum intensity projections after plaque and bone removal, and DSA images, according to the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria. The accuracy of the detection of relevant stenoses (> 70%) and occlusions was assessed. Correlation coefficients of the grades of stenoses with DSA were calculated. The influence of vessel enhancement on the accuracy of plaque removal was analyzed.

RESULTS

The average postprocessing time was 45 seconds. After plaque removal, all 25 relevant and four nonrelevant stenoses were correctly detected. Six relevant stenoses were overestimated as complete occlusions. With the standard reconstructions, two nonrelevant stenoses were overestimated as relevant. Correlation coefficients (r(2)) for the grading of stenoses after plaque removal and with standard reconstructions versus DSA were 0.7694 and 0.4329, respectively. Vessel contrast enhancement correlated weakly (r(2) = 0.2072) with the accuracy of plaque removal.

CONCLUSION

Dual-energy CT with plaque removal automatically delivers CT luminograms with a high sensitivity for the detection of relevant stenoses and a higher correlation to DSA than standard reconstructions but frequently leads to an overestimation of high-grade stenoses as occlusions. Thus, dual-energy CT plaque and bone removal should be used complementary to standard reconstructions, and not exclusively.

Dual Energy CT and Its Use in Neuroangiography

The dual energy CT (DECT) technology has been recently employed in the form of two X-ray sources of different energies to enhance the contrast between adjacent structures. Its use in the cardiac arena has been widely highlighted due to the higher temporal resolution. However, it may also be used in the craniocervical and peripheral vasculature for better differentiation between contrast-enhanced vascular lumina and calcified plaques, in the characterisation of ureteric stones, and in the evaluation of hepatic lesions. The objective of this paper is to revisit DECT physics, review the literature and discuss its use in CT neuroangiography with case illustrations from our institution, and impact on dose savings. Key words: Craniocervical CT angiography, Intracranial aneurysms, Radiation dosage, Vascular stenosis