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Relationship between diverse patient body size- and image acquisition-related factors, and quantitative and qualitative image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography: a multicenter observational study

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Abstract

Purpose

We investigated the effects of patient- and image acquisition-related factors on the image quality in coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Materials and methods

We enrolled 1197 patients (728 men; 65 ± 12 years). All underwent CCTA under the routine scan protocol in 23 participating hospitals. The subjective image quality (3-point Likert scale: excellent, good, and poor) and the attenuation of the left and right coronary artery (LCA, RCA) were recorded; the effects of patient and image acquisition-related factors on vascular attenuation were then compared.

Results

The mean LCA attenuation was 515.2 ± 65.8 (excellent), 401.4 ± 63.4 (good), and 319.5 ± 47.6 HU (poor). The corresponding RCA attenuation was 496.6 ± 67.6, 390.5 ± 58.5, and 308.5 ± 50.7 HU, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between sufficient coronary attenuation (> 400 HU) and the age, gender, body surface area (BSA), number of detectors, contrast synchronization, scan mode, and the fractional contrast dose. Multivariate analysis revealed that the bolus tracking method, prospective electrocardiogram gating, and fractional contrast dose were significantly associated with sufficient coronary enhancement.

Conclusion

BSA and fractional contrast dose are the most important patient- and image acquisition-related factors for sufficient coronary attenuation in CCTA.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Bayer Yakuhin Ltd. The study data was independently analyzed and interpreted from the funder.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1, Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, 860-8556, Japan

    Daisuke Utsunomiya & Yasuyuki Yamashita

  2. Division of Cardiovascular Radiology, Department of Radiology, Iwate Medical University Hospital, Morioka City, Japan

    Ryoichi Tanaka & Kunihiro Yoshioka

  3. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima City, Japan

    Kazuo Awai

  4. Department of Radiology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon City, Japan

    Teruhito Mochizuki

  5. Department of Radiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Use City, Japan

    Naofumi Matsunaga

  6. Department of Radiology, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Hidaka City, Japan

    Tomoaki Ichikawa

  7. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center, Gifu City, Japan

    Masayuki Kanematsu

  8. Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita City, Japan

    Tonsok Kim

Authors
  1. Daisuke Utsunomiya
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  2. Ryoichi Tanaka
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  3. Kunihiro Yoshioka
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  4. Kazuo Awai
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  5. Teruhito Mochizuki
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  6. Naofumi Matsunaga
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  7. Tomoaki Ichikawa
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  8. Masayuki Kanematsu
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  9. Tonsok Kim
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  10. Yasuyuki Yamashita
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daisuke Utsunomiya.

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Appendix

Appendix

The participating hospitals are Ehime University Hospital; Fukushima Medical University Hospital; Hamamatsu University Hospital; Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital; Hokkaido University Hospital; Hyogo College Of Medicine Hospital; Iwate Medical University Hospital Memorial Heart Center; Jichi Medical University Hospital; Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital; Kanazawa Medical University Hospital; Kanazawa University Hospital; Kobe University Hospital; Kumamoto University Hospital; Nagoya City University Hospital; Nara Medical University Hospital; Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital; Saitama International Medical Center; St Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital; The University of Tokyo Hospital; Tottori University Hospital; University of the Ryukyus Hospital; Yamagata University Hospital; and Yamaguchi University Hospital.

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Utsunomiya, D., Tanaka, R., Yoshioka, K. et al. Relationship between diverse patient body size- and image acquisition-related factors, and quantitative and qualitative image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography: a multicenter observational study . Jpn J Radiol 34, 548–555 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-016-0556-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-016-0556-0

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