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Impact of metal artifact reduction software on image quality of gemstone spectral imaging dual-energy cerebral CT angiography after intracranial aneurysm clipping

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to assess the impact of metal artifact reduction software (MARs) on image quality of gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) dual-energy (DE) cerebral CT angiography (CTA) after intracranial aneurysm clipping.

Methods

This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, which waived patient written consent. From January 2013 to September 2016, single source DE cerebral CTA were performed in 45 patients (mean age: 60 ± 9 years, male 9) after intracranial aneurysm clipping and reconstructed with and without MARs. Signal-to-noise (SNR), contrast-to-noise (CNR), and relative CNR (rCNR) ratios were calculated from attenuation values measured in the internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA). Volume of clip and artifacts and relative clip blurring reduction (rCBR) ratios were also measured at each energy level with/without MARs. Variables were compared between GSI and GSI-MARs using the paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

MARs significantly reduced metal artifacts at all energy levels but 130 and 140 keV, regardless of clips’ location and number. The optimal rCBR was obtained at 110 and 80 keV, respectively, on GSI and GSI-MARs images, with up to 96% rCNR increase on GSI-MARs images. The best compromise between metal artifact reduction and rCNR was obtained at 70–75 and 65–70 keV for GSI and GSI-MARs images, respectively, with up to 15% rCBR and rCNR increase on GSI-MARs images.

Conclusion

MARs significantly reduces metal artifacts on DE cerebral CTA after intracranial aneurysm clipping regardless of clips’ location and number. It may be used to reduce radiation dose while increasing CNR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1003, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Vincent Dunet, Martine Bernasconi, Steven David Hajdu, Reto Antoine Meuli & Jean-Baptiste Zerlauth

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Roy Thomas Daniel

Authors
  1. Vincent Dunet
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  2. Martine Bernasconi
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  3. Steven David Hajdu
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  4. Reto Antoine Meuli
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  5. Roy Thomas Daniel
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  6. Jean-Baptiste Zerlauth
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincent Dunet.

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Funding

No funding was received for this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional review board and the ethics committee of the State of Vaud and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study formal consent is not required.

Informed consent

For this type of retrospective study, formal consent is not required.

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Dunet, V., Bernasconi, M., Hajdu, S.D. et al. Impact of metal artifact reduction software on image quality of gemstone spectral imaging dual-energy cerebral CT angiography after intracranial aneurysm clipping. Neuroradiology 59, 845–852 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-017-1871-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-017-1871-6

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