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Title: Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Angiography of the Head and Neck With Single-Source Computed Tomography: A New Technical (Split Filter) Approach for Bone Removal. Author: Kaemmerer N, Brand M, Hammon M, May M, Wuest W, Krauss B, Uder M, Lell MM. Journal: Invest Radiol; 2016 Oct; 51(10):618-23. PubMed ID: 27187046. Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Dual-energy computed tomographic angiography (DE-CTA) has been demonstrated to improve the visualization of the head and neck vessels. The aim of this study was to test the potential of split-filter single-source dual-energy CT to automatically remove bone from the final CTA data set. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dual-energy CTA was performed in 50 consecutive patients to evaluate the supra-aortic arteries, either to grade carotid artery stenosis or to rule out traumatic dissections. Dual-energy CTA was performed on a 128-slice single-source CT system equipped with a special filter array to separate the 120-kV spectrum into a high- and a low-energy spectrum for DE-based automated bone removal. Image quality of fully automated bone suppression and subsequent manual optimization was evaluated by 2 radiologists on maximum intensity projections using a 4-grade scoring system. The effect of image reconstruction with an iterative metal artifact reduction algorithm on DE postprocessing was tested using a 3-grade scoring system, and the time demand for each postprocessing step was measured. RESULTS: Two patients were excluded due to insufficient arterial contrast enhancement; in the remaining 48 patients, automated bone removal could be performed successfully. The addition of iterative metal artifact reduction algorithm improved image quality in 58.3% of the cases. After manual optimization, DE-CTA image quality was rated excellent in 7, good in 29, and moderate in 10 patients. Interobserver agreement was high (κ = 0.85). Stenosis grading was not influenced using DE-CTA with bone removal as compared with the original CTA. The time demand for DE image reconstruction was significantly higher than for single-energy reconstruction (42.1 vs 20.9 seconds). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that bone removal in DE-CTA of the head and neck vessels with a single-source CT is feasible and can be performed within acceptable time and moderate user interaction.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]