Among the tested reconstruction settings, kernel Bv40 provided the best overall balance of sharpness, noise, and CNR for high-pitch spectral coronary PCCT.
Increasing kernel sharpness improved vessel sharpness but also increased image noise and reduced CNR, highlighting the trade-off between detail and noise.
Subjective image quality was rated highest for Bv40 and Bv36, supporting Bv40 as the most practical default reconstruction for spectral high-pitch coronary PCCT.
Access publication
Figure 1. Example of vessel sharpness measurements. Line profiles of distal right coronary artery and corresponding double sigmoid fit functions with images reconstructed using kernels Br36 (top) and Bv44 (bottom). A considerably steeper slope, which presents a sharper vessel wall, can be observed in the reconstruction with the Bv44 kernel, S = 9.7/mm (bottom), compared to the Br36 kernel, S = 3.5/mm (top).
Source: Yang et al., Diagnostics, 2023, CC BY 4.0
Protocol
Detail | Value |
|---|
Scanner | NAEOTOM Alpha |
Scan area | Coronary CTA / heart |
Scan mode | High-pitch Flash-QuantumPlus |
Scan direction | High-pitch spiral |
Tube voltage [kV] | 120 |
Effective mAs [mAs] | n.a. |
IQ level | n.a. |
Dose modulation | CARE Dose4D |
CTDIvol [mGy] | 2.68 ± 0.59 |
DLP [mGy*cm] | 53.51 ± 8.91 |
Rotation time [s] | 0.25 |
Pitch | 3.2 |
Matrix | 512 × 512 |
Slice collimation [mm] | 144 × 0.4 |
Slice width [mm] | 0.4 |
Reconstruction increment [mm] | 0.2 |
Reconstruction kernels | Br36/40/44/48, Bv36/40/44/48, Qr36/40/44/48 |
Iterative reconstruction | QIR 3 |
keV level [keV] | 55 |
Acquisition mode | Spectral QuantumPlus |
ECG pulsing window | Diastolic, start at 60% of R-R interval |
Contrast agent | Ultravist 370 mg iodine/mL |
Contrast protocol | 15 mL test bolus + 75 mL main bolus |
Patient preparation | 0.8 mg sublingual nitroglycerin and up to 10 mg IV metoprolol if needed |
Yang Y, Fink N, Emrich T, et al. Optimization of Kernel Type and Sharpness Level Improves Objective and Subjective Image Quality for High-Pitch Photon Counting Coronary CT Angiography. Diagnostics. 2023;13(11):1937.
