Advanced Modeled Iterative Reconstruction in Low-Tube-Voltage Contrast-Enhanced Neck CT: Evaluation of Objective and Subjective Image Quality

Publication

Advanced Modeled Iterative Reconstruction in Low-Tube-Voltage Contrast-Enhanced Neck CT: Evaluation of Objective and Subjective Image Quality

Journal Paper/Review - Oct 1, 2015

Scholtz J-E, Vogl T J, Lehnert T, Bauer Ralf, Kerl J M, Metzger S C, Bodelle B, Albrecht M H, Hüsers K, Kaup M, Wichmann J L

Citation

Scholtz J, Vogl T, Lehnert T, Bauer R, Kerl J, Metzger S, Bodelle B, Albrecht M, Hüsers K, Kaup M, Wichmann J. Advanced Modeled Iterative Reconstruction in Low-Tube-Voltage Contrast-Enhanced Neck CT: Evaluation of Objective and Subjective Image Quality. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2015; 37:143-50.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2015; 37

Publication Date

Oct 1, 2015

Issn Electronic

1936-959X

Pages

143-50

Brief description/objective

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Dose-saving techniques in neck CT cause increased image noise that can be counteracted by iterative reconstruction. Our aim was to evaluate the image quality of advanced modeled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE) in contrast-enhanced low-tube-voltage neck CT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixty-one patients underwent 90-kV(peak) neck CT by using third-generation 192-section dual-source CT. Image series were reconstructed with standard filtered back-projection and ADMIRE strength levels 1, 3, and 5. Attenuation and noise of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, submandibular gland, tongue, subscapularis muscle, and cervical fat were measured. Signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios were calculated. Two radiologists assessed image noise, image contrast, delineation of smaller structures, and overall diagnostic acceptability. Interobserver agreement was calculated.

RESULTS
Image noise was significantly reduced by using ADMIRE compared with filtered back-projection with the lowest noise observed in ADMIRE 5 (filtered back-projection, 9.4 ± 2.4 Hounsfield units [HU]; ADMIRE 1, 8.3 ± 2.8 HU; ADMIRE 3, 6.7 ± 2.0 HU; ADMIRE 5, 5.4 ± 1.7 HU; all, P < .001). Sternocleidomastoid SNR and internal jugular vein-sternocleidomastoid contrast-to-noise ratios were significantly higher for ADMIRE with the best results in ADMIRE 5 (all, P < .001). Subjective image quality and image contrast of ADMIRE 3 and 5 were consistently rated better than those for filtered back-projection and ADMIRE 1 (all, P < .001). Image noise was rated highest for ADMIRE 5 (all, P < .005). Delineation of smaller structures was voted higher in all ADMIRE strength levels compared with filtered back-projection (P < .001). Global interobserver agreement was good (0.75).

CONCLUSIONS
Contrast-enhanced 90-kVp neck CT is feasible, and ADMIRE 5 shows superior objective image quality compared with filtered back-projection. ADMIRE 3 and 5 show the best subjective image quality.