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Reduction of Metallic Artifacts of the Post-treatment Intracranial Aneurysms: Effects of Single Energy Metal Artifact Reduction Algorithm

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Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated the quality of computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography images generated using the single-energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR) algorithm during perfusion examination in patients who had undergone reconstruction with neurosurgical clipping or endovascular coiling for treatment of aneurysms.

Methods

A total of 55 patients with implanted intracranial clips or coils (24 men and 31 women; mean age 60.15 ± 15.86 years) underwent perfusion studies evaluated by CT and CT angiography with a 320-row CT scanner. Images were reconstructed with either the SEMAR algorithm combined with iterative reconstruction (SEMAR group), or by iterative reconstruction only (non-SEMAR group control). The SEMAR and control images were compared for artifacts (index and maximum diameter), image quality, cerebral perfusion parameters, noise (images with the worst artifacts), and contrast-to-noise ratio. The metallic artifacts were visually evaluated by two radiologists using a four-point scale in a double-blinded manner.

Results

The noise, artifact diameter, and artifact index of the SEMAR images were significantly lower than that of the control images, and the subjective image quality score and contrast-to-noise ratio were significantly higher (P < 0.01, all). The cerebral perfusion parameters of the SEMAR and control images were comparable (i. e. blood flow, blood volume, and mean transit time).

Conclusion

For imaging intracranial metallic implants, the SEMAR algorithm produced images with significantly fewer artifacts than the iterative reconstruction alone, with no statistical changes in perfusion parameters. Thus, SEMAR reconstruction can be instrumental in improving CT image quality and may ultimately improve the detection of postoperative complications and patient prognosis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Project of Medical and Health Technology Program of Zhejiang Province (2018KY155), the Huimin Project of Science and Technology of Ningbo City (2016C51013), the Natural Science Foundation Project of Ningbo City (2016A610140), Ningbo People of Science and Technology Projects (2015C50005) and the National Key Research and Development Plan (2016YFC0106106).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

    Yu-Ning Pan & Zhao-Qian Chen

  2. Department of Clinical medical engineering Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

    Ge Chen

  3. Department of Radiology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

    Ai-Jing Li

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

    Xiang Gao & Yi Huang

  5. Department of Radiology, Baystate Medical Center, University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, 01199, Springfield, MA, USA

    Bradley Mattson & Shan Li

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  1. Yu-Ning Pan
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  2. Ge Chen
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  4. Zhao-Qian Chen
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  8. Shan Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ai-Jing Li.

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Conflict of interest

Y.-N. Pan, G. Chen, A.-J. Li, Z.-Q. Chen, X. Gao, Y. Huang, B. Mattson and S. Li declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical standards

The Ethics Committee of Ningbo First Hospital approved this retrospective study.

Caption Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary figure 1.

Scanning acquisition protocol, X‑axis is time(s), Y‑axis is tube current (mA), tube voltage 80 KV

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Pan, YN., Chen, G., Li, AJ. et al. Reduction of Metallic Artifacts of the Post-treatment Intracranial Aneurysms: Effects of Single Energy Metal Artifact Reduction Algorithm. Clin Neuroradiol 29, 277–284 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-017-0644-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-017-0644-2

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