High-pitch Dual-source CT Angiography of the Aortic Valve-aortic Root Complex Without ECG-synchronization

Overview

Journal Eur Radiol

Specialty Radiology

Date 2010 Aug 3

PMID 20677006

Citations 25

Authors

Christoph Karlo

Sebastian Leschka

Robert Paul Goetti

Gudrun Feuchtner

Lotus Desbiolles

Paul Stolzmann

Andre Plass

Volkmar Falk

Borut Marincek

Hatem Alkadhi

Stephan Baumuller

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare image quality and radiation dose of high-pitch computed tomography angiography(CTA) of the aortic valve-aortic root complex with and without prospective ECG-gating compared to a retrospectively ECG-gated standard-pitch acquisition.

Materials And Methods: 120 patients (mean age 68±13 years) were examined using a 128-slice dual-source CT system using prospectively ECG-gated high-pitch (group A; n=40), non-ECG-gated high-pitch (group B; n=40) or retrospectively ECG-gated standard-pitch (C; n=40) acquisition techniques. Image quality of the aortic root, valve and ascending aorta including the coronary ostia was assessed by two independent readers. Image noise was measured, radiation dose estimates were calculated.

Results: Interobserver agreement was good(κ=0.64-0.78). Image quality was diagnostic in 38/40 patients (group A), 37/40(B) and 38/40(C) with no significant difference in number of patients with diagnostic image quality among all groups (p=0.56). Significantly more patients showed excellent image quality in group A compared to groups B and C (each, p<0.01). Average image noise was significantly different between all groups (p<0.05). Mean radiation dose estimates in groups A and B (each; 2.4±0.3 mSv) were significantly lower compared to group C (17.5±4.4 mSv; p<0.01).

Conclusion: High-pitch dual-source CTA provides diagnostic image quality of the aortic valve-aortic root complex even without ECG-gating at 86% less radiation dose when compared to a standard-pitch ECG-gated acquisition.

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