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Stent appearance in a novel silicon-based photon-counting CT prototype: ex vivo phantom study in head-to-head comparison with conventional energy-integrating CT
Journal Contribution - Journal Article
Background: In this study, stent appearance in a novel silicon-based photon-counting computed tomography (SiPCCT) prototype was compared with a conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EIDCT) system.
Methods: An ex vivo phantom was created, consisting of a 2% agar-water mixture, in which human-resected and stented arteries were individually embedded. Using similar technique parameters, helical scan data was acquired using a novel prototype Si-PCCT and a conventional EIDCT system at a volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) of 9 mGy. Reconstructions were made at 502and 1502 mm2
feld-of-views (FOVs) using a bone kernel and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction with 0% blending. Using a 5-point Likert scale, reader evaluations were performed on stent appearance, blooming and inter-stent visibility. Quantitative image analysis was performed on stent diameter accuracy, blooming and inter-stent distinction. Qualitative and quantitative diferences between Si-PCCT and EIDCT
systems were tested with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and a paired samples t-test, respectively. Inter- and intra-reader
agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefcient (ICC).
Results: Qualitatively, Si-PCCT images were rated higher than EIDCT images at 150-mm FOV, based on stent appearance (p=0.026) and blooming (p=0.015), with a moderate inter- (ICC=0.50) and intra-reader (ICC=0.60) agreement. Quantitatively, Si-PCCT yielded more accurate diameter measurements (p=0.001), reduced blooming (p<0.001) and improved inter-stent distinction (p<0.001). Similar trends were observed for the images reconstructed at 50-mm FOV.Conclusions: When compared to EIDCT, the improved spatial resolution of Si-PCCT yields enhanced stent appearance, more accurate diameter measurements, reduced blooming and improved inter-stent distinction.
Methods: An ex vivo phantom was created, consisting of a 2% agar-water mixture, in which human-resected and stented arteries were individually embedded. Using similar technique parameters, helical scan data was acquired using a novel prototype Si-PCCT and a conventional EIDCT system at a volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) of 9 mGy. Reconstructions were made at 502and 1502 mm2
feld-of-views (FOVs) using a bone kernel and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction with 0% blending. Using a 5-point Likert scale, reader evaluations were performed on stent appearance, blooming and inter-stent visibility. Quantitative image analysis was performed on stent diameter accuracy, blooming and inter-stent distinction. Qualitative and quantitative diferences between Si-PCCT and EIDCT
systems were tested with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and a paired samples t-test, respectively. Inter- and intra-reader
agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefcient (ICC).
Results: Qualitatively, Si-PCCT images were rated higher than EIDCT images at 150-mm FOV, based on stent appearance (p=0.026) and blooming (p=0.015), with a moderate inter- (ICC=0.50) and intra-reader (ICC=0.60) agreement. Quantitatively, Si-PCCT yielded more accurate diameter measurements (p=0.001), reduced blooming (p<0.001) and improved inter-stent distinction (p<0.001). Similar trends were observed for the images reconstructed at 50-mm FOV.Conclusions: When compared to EIDCT, the improved spatial resolution of Si-PCCT yields enhanced stent appearance, more accurate diameter measurements, reduced blooming and improved inter-stent distinction.
Journal: European Radiology Experimental
Issue: 1
Volume: 7
Pages: 23
Publication year:2023
Keywords:photon counting CT, silicon semiconductor, ex vivo phantom, stent imaging
Accessibility:Open