TU Darmstadt / ULB / TUbiblio

Improvement of Neurovascular Imaging Using Ultra-High-Resolution Computed Tomography Angiography

Ucar, Felix A. ; Frenzel, Marius ; Kronfeld, Andrea ; Altmann, Sebastian ; Sanner, Antoine P. ; Abello Mercado, Mario Alberto ; Uphaus, Timo ; Brockmann, Marc A. ; Othman, Ahmed E. (2025)
Improvement of Neurovascular Imaging Using Ultra-High-Resolution Computed Tomography Angiography.
In: Clinical Neuroradiology : Official Journal of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Societies of Neuroradiology, 2024, 34 (1)
doi: 10.26083/tuprints-00028675
Artikel, Zweitveröffentlichung, Verlagsversion

WarnungEs ist eine neuere Version dieses Eintrags verfügbar.

Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract)

Objective: To evaluate diagnostic image quality of ultra-high-resolution computed tomography angiography (UHR-CTA) in neurovascular imaging as compared to normal resolution CT-angiography (NR-CTA).

Material and Methods: In this retrospective single-center study brain and neck CT-angiography was performed using an ultra-high-resolution computed tomography scanner (n = 82) or a normal resolution CT scanner (NR-CTA; n = 73). Ultra-high-resolution images were reconstructed with a 1024 × 1024 matrix and a slice thickness of 0.25 mm, whereas NR-CT images were reconstructed with a 512 × 512 matrix and a slice thickness of 0.5 mm. Three blinded neuroradiologists assessed overall image quality, artifacts, image noise, overall contrast and diagnostic confidence using a 4-point Likert scale. Furthermore, the visualization and delineation of supra-aortic arteries with an emphasis on the visualization of small intracerebral vessels was assessed using a cerebral vascular score, also utilizing a 4-point Likert scale. Quantitative analyses included signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), noise and the steepness of gray value transition. Radiation exposure was determined by comparison of computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP) and mean effective dose. Interrater agreement was evaluated via determining Fleiss-Kappa.

Results: Ultra-high-resolution CT-angiography (UHR-CTA) yielded excellent image quality with superior quantitative (SNR: p < 0.001, CNR: p < 0.001, steepness of gray value transition: p < 0.001) and qualitative results (overall image quality: 4 (Inter quartile range (IQR) = 4–4); p < 0.001, diagnostic confidence: 4 (IQR = 4–4); p < 0.001) compared to NR-CT (overall image quality: 3 (IQR = 3–3), diagnostic confidence: 3 (IQR = 3–4)). Furthermore, UHR-CT enabled significantly superior delineation and visualization of all vascular segments, from proximal extracranial vessels to the smallest peripheral cerebral branches (e.g., UHR-CTA PICA: 4 (3–4) vs. NR-CTA PICA: 3 (2–3); UHR-CTA P4: 4 (IQR = 3–4) vs. NR-CTA P4: 2 (IQR = 2–3); UHR-CTA M4: 4 (IQR = 4–4) vs. NR-CTA M4: 3 (IQR = 2–3); UHR-CTA A4: 4 (IQR = 3–4) vs. NR-CTA A4: 2 (IQR = 2–3); all p < 0.001). Noteworthy, a reduced mean effective dose was observed when applying UHR-CT (NR-CTA: 1.8 ± 0.3 mSv; UHR-CTA: 1.5 ± 0.5 mSv; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Ultra-high-resolution CT-angiography improves image quality in neurovascular imaging allowing the depiction and evaluation of small peripheral cerebral arteries. It may thus improve the detection of pathologies in small cerebrovascular lesions and the resulting diagnosis.

Typ des Eintrags: Artikel
Erschienen: 2025
Autor(en): Ucar, Felix A. ; Frenzel, Marius ; Kronfeld, Andrea ; Altmann, Sebastian ; Sanner, Antoine P. ; Abello Mercado, Mario Alberto ; Uphaus, Timo ; Brockmann, Marc A. ; Othman, Ahmed E.
Art des Eintrags: Zweitveröffentlichung
Titel: Improvement of Neurovascular Imaging Using Ultra-High-Resolution Computed Tomography Angiography
Sprache: Englisch
Publikationsjahr: 14 Januar 2025
Ort: Darmstadt
Publikationsdatum der Erstveröffentlichung: März 2024
Ort der Erstveröffentlichung: Berlin ; Heidelberg
Verlag: Springer
Titel der Zeitschrift, Zeitung oder Schriftenreihe: Clinical Neuroradiology : Official Journal of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Societies of Neuroradiology
Jahrgang/Volume einer Zeitschrift: 34
(Heft-)Nummer: 1
DOI: 10.26083/tuprints-00028675
URL / URN: https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/28675
Zugehörige Links:
Herkunft: Zweitveröffentlichung DeepGreen
Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract):

Objective: To evaluate diagnostic image quality of ultra-high-resolution computed tomography angiography (UHR-CTA) in neurovascular imaging as compared to normal resolution CT-angiography (NR-CTA).

Material and Methods: In this retrospective single-center study brain and neck CT-angiography was performed using an ultra-high-resolution computed tomography scanner (n = 82) or a normal resolution CT scanner (NR-CTA; n = 73). Ultra-high-resolution images were reconstructed with a 1024 × 1024 matrix and a slice thickness of 0.25 mm, whereas NR-CT images were reconstructed with a 512 × 512 matrix and a slice thickness of 0.5 mm. Three blinded neuroradiologists assessed overall image quality, artifacts, image noise, overall contrast and diagnostic confidence using a 4-point Likert scale. Furthermore, the visualization and delineation of supra-aortic arteries with an emphasis on the visualization of small intracerebral vessels was assessed using a cerebral vascular score, also utilizing a 4-point Likert scale. Quantitative analyses included signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), noise and the steepness of gray value transition. Radiation exposure was determined by comparison of computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP) and mean effective dose. Interrater agreement was evaluated via determining Fleiss-Kappa.

Results: Ultra-high-resolution CT-angiography (UHR-CTA) yielded excellent image quality with superior quantitative (SNR: p < 0.001, CNR: p < 0.001, steepness of gray value transition: p < 0.001) and qualitative results (overall image quality: 4 (Inter quartile range (IQR) = 4–4); p < 0.001, diagnostic confidence: 4 (IQR = 4–4); p < 0.001) compared to NR-CT (overall image quality: 3 (IQR = 3–3), diagnostic confidence: 3 (IQR = 3–4)). Furthermore, UHR-CT enabled significantly superior delineation and visualization of all vascular segments, from proximal extracranial vessels to the smallest peripheral cerebral branches (e.g., UHR-CTA PICA: 4 (3–4) vs. NR-CTA PICA: 3 (2–3); UHR-CTA P4: 4 (IQR = 3–4) vs. NR-CTA P4: 2 (IQR = 2–3); UHR-CTA M4: 4 (IQR = 4–4) vs. NR-CTA M4: 3 (IQR = 2–3); UHR-CTA A4: 4 (IQR = 3–4) vs. NR-CTA A4: 2 (IQR = 2–3); all p < 0.001). Noteworthy, a reduced mean effective dose was observed when applying UHR-CT (NR-CTA: 1.8 ± 0.3 mSv; UHR-CTA: 1.5 ± 0.5 mSv; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Ultra-high-resolution CT-angiography improves image quality in neurovascular imaging allowing the depiction and evaluation of small peripheral cerebral arteries. It may thus improve the detection of pathologies in small cerebrovascular lesions and the resulting diagnosis.

Freie Schlagworte: Computed tomography, Computed tomography angiography, Resolution, Cerebral arteries, Image enhancement
Status: Verlagsversion
URN: urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-286753
Sachgruppe der Dewey Dezimalklassifikatin (DDC): 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin, Gesundheit
Fachbereich(e)/-gebiet(e): 20 Fachbereich Informatik
20 Fachbereich Informatik > Graphisch-Interaktive Systeme
20 Fachbereich Informatik > Fraunhofer IGD
Hinterlegungsdatum: 14 Jan 2025 09:50
Letzte Änderung: 15 Jan 2025 13:54
PPN:
Export:
Suche nach Titel in: TUfind oder in Google

Verfügbare Versionen dieses Eintrags

Frage zum Eintrag Frage zum Eintrag

Optionen (nur für Redakteure)
Redaktionelle Details anzeigen Redaktionelle Details anzeigen