Visualization of the middle meningeal artery on photon-counting detector CT: Comparison with energy-integrating detector CT

IF 3.2 3区医学 Q1 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

European Journal of Radiology Pub Date : 2025-05-07 DOI:10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112155

Kazuhisa Matsumoto , Masahiro Nakashima , Tatsuya Kawai , Takatsune Kawaguchi , Wataru Sugihara , Misugi Urano , Yusuke Nishikawa , Nobuo Kitera , Seita Watanabe , Toshihide Itoh , Akio Hiwatashi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

The middle meningeal artery (MMA) is the target arteries for the treatment of intracranial diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) to improve the visualization of the MMA compared to energy-integrated detector CT (EID-CT).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed head CT angiography images from patients who underwent PCD-CT with ultra-high-resolution (UHR) mode between April 2023 and July 2024. We compared the images reconstructed with a slice thickness 0.2 mm and the matrix sizes 1024 × 1024 (’PCD-1024’) and 512 × 512 (’PCD-512’) with the same-patient images previously obtained by EID-CT with 0.75- or 1.0- mm slice thickness and the matrix size 512 × 512 (’EID-512’). Quantitatively, a region of interest (ROI) was placed on the maxillary artery near the origin of the MMA, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and contrast ratio (CR) were measured. Image sharpness was evaluated by measuring the full width at half maximum (FWHM) and the maximum intensity from the MMA vessel line profile. Qualitatively, the overall image quality, sharpness, and artifacts were evaluated using four-point Likert scales. The same evaluation was performed using PCD-CT with 0.2 mm (’0.2 mm’) and virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) (’45 keV’, ’55 keV’, and ’70 keV’).

Results

30 patients (19 males, 11 females; median age 65 years) were included. Quantitatively, the SNR (mean ± SD) for PCD-1024, PCD-512, and EID-512 were 16.9 ± 5.6, 20.3 ± 6.2, and 23.2 ± 7.8, respectively (P < 0.01 for PCD-1024 vs. EID-512). The CNR were 16.6 ± 4.5, 20.2 ± 5.5, and 44.4 ± 13.9. The CR were 0.74 ± 0.06, 0.74 ± 0.06, and 0.68 ± 0.08. The FWHM were 1.41 ± 0.17, 1.48 ± 0.15, and 1.77 ± 0.12, and the maximum intensity were 407.5 ± 71.7, 386.0 ± 72.5, and 218.2 ± 58.2 (P < 0.001 for PCD-1024 vs. EID-512 and PCD-512 vs. EID-512, respectively). Qualitatively, significant differences (P < 0.05) were identified among the PCD-1024, PCD-512, and EID-512 groups regarding the respective scores (median [IQR]) for overall image quality (4 [3–4], 3 [3–4], and 2 [2–3]), sharpness (4 [3–4], 3 [3–3], and 2 [2–3]), and artifacts (3 [3–3], 3 [2–3], and 2 [2–2]). In VMI analysis, quantitatively, 45 keV showed the highest values for SNR, CNR, CR, and maximum intensity; however, there were no differences in FWHM among the groups. Qualitatively, 0.2 mm was superior to the other groups in all evaluated aspects (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

PCD-1024 visualized the MMA better than both PCD-512 and EID-512. The 0.2 mm reconstruction was visually superior to the VMIs.

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光子计数CT显示脑膜中动脉：与能量积分CT的比较

目的脑膜中动脉（MMA）是颅内疾病治疗的靶动脉。本研究的目的是研究光子计数检测器CT （PCD-CT）与能量集成检测器CT （EID-CT）相比改善MMA可视化的能力。方法回顾性分析2023年4月至2024年7月行超高分辨率（UHR）模式PCD-CT的患者头部CT血管造影图像。我们将切片厚度为0.2 mm，矩阵尺寸为1024 × 1024 （‘ pdd -1024 ‘）和512 × 512 （’ pdd -512 ’）重建的图像与先前通过EID-CT获得的相同患者的0.75或1.0 mm切片厚度和矩阵尺寸为512 × 512 （' EID-512 '）的图像进行了比较。定量地，在MMA起源附近的上颌动脉上放置感兴趣区域（ROI），并测量信噪比（SNR）、噪声对比比（CNR）和对比度（CR）。通过测量半最大全宽度（FWHM）和MMA血管线轮廓的最大强度来评估图像清晰度。定性地，整体图像质量，清晰度和伪影使用四点李克特量表进行评估。使用0.2 mm （‘ 0.2 mm ‘）和虚拟单能图像（vmi）（’ 45 keV ’， ‘ 55 keV ’和‘ 70 keV ’）的PCD-CT进行相同的评估。结果30例患者中男性19例，女性11例；中位年龄65岁)。定量分析，pdd -1024、pdd -512和EID-512的信噪比（mean±SD）分别为16.9±5.6、20.3±6.2和23.2±7.8 (P <；pdd -1024比EID-512为0.01)。中国北车是16.6±4.5,20.2±5.5,44.4±13.9。CR分别为0.74±0.06,0.74±0.06,0.68±0.08。FWHM分别为1.41±0.17、1.48±0.15和1.77±0.12，最大强度分别为407.5±71.7、386.0±72.5和218.2±58.2 (P <；PCD-1024 vs. EID-512和PCD-512 vs. EID-512分别为0.001)。质性差异显著(P <；在整体图像质量（4[3 - 4]、3[3 - 4]和2[2 - 3]）、清晰度（4[3 - 4]、3[3 - 3]和2[2 - 3]）和伪影（3[3 - 3]、3[2 - 3]和2[2 - 2]）的得分（中位数[IQR]）方面，PCD-1024、PCD-512和EID-512组的差异均为0.05)。在VMI定量分析中，45 keV显示信噪比、CNR、CR和最大强度的最大值；各组间FWHM差异无统计学意义。定性上，0.2 mm在各评价方面均优于其他组(P <；0.05)。结论pdd -1024对MMA的显示效果优于pdd -512和EID-512。0.2 mm重建在视觉上优于VMIs。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Radiology 医学-核医学

CiteScore

6.70

自引率

3.00%

发文量

398

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： European Journal of Radiology is an international journal which aims to communicate to its readers, state-of-the-art information on imaging developments in the form of high quality original research articles and timely reviews on current developments in the field. Its audience includes clinicians at all levels of training including radiology trainees, newly qualified imaging specialists and the experienced radiologist. Its aim is to inform efficient, appropriate and evidence-based imaging practice to the benefit of patients worldwide.