Filtered Back Projection Revisited in Low-kilovolt Computed Tomography Angiography: Sharp Filter Kernel Enhances Visualization of the Artery of Adamkiewicz

Overview

Journal Neuroradiology

Specialties Neurology
Radiology

Date 2018 Nov 23

PMID 30465057

Citations 6

Authors

Tatsuya Nishii

Akiyuki Kotoku

Yoshiro Hori

Yuji Matsuzaki

Yoshiaki Watanabe

Yoshiaki Morita

Atsushi K Kono

Hitoshi Matsuda

Tetsuya Fukuda

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The reliability of assessment of the artery of Adamkiewicz before the aortic repair is highly dependent on the display of the continuity of this artery with the aorta, mainly around the vertebral pedicle, by computed tomography angiography (CTA). We hypothesized that the sharp filter kernel can improve visualization of this continuity of the vessel structure because of its edge enhancement and high-spatial resolution. This study was performed to compare the subjective and objective image quality of spinal CTA reconstructed with sharp and smooth filter kernels.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 40 consecutive patients who had undergone 80-kV CTA to detect the artery of Adamkiewicz before aortic repair. We measured the CT number and the contrast-to-noise ratio of the anterior spinal artery to the spinal cord. Furthermore, the continuity of the artery of Adamkiewicz was evaluated using a 3-point scale (2 points, absolute; 0 points, undetectable).

Results: CTA with the sharp filter kernel showed a significantly higher CT number and contrast-to-noise ratio of the spinal artery than did CTA with the smooth filter kernel (P < .001 for both). Moreover, the sharp filter kernel showed a significantly higher continuity of the artery of Adamkiewicz with the aorta than did the smooth filter kernel (P < .001).

Conclusions: The sharp filter kernel significantly improved the image quality in low-tube-voltage CTA for the assessment of the artery of Adamkiewicz. Thus, CTA with the sharp filter kernel can generate a high-confidence level in the evaluation of the artery of Adamkiewicz.

Citing Articles

Identification of Adamkiewicz artery by 4D flow MRI and intra-arterial ultra-high-resolution CT angiography in preoperative assessment of patients with chronic aortic dissection: A case report.

Higuchi S, Sato Y, Ota H, Mori R, Ichinoseki Y, Nemoto H Radiol Case Rep. 2025; 20(3):1581-1585.

PMID: 39831139 PMC: 11742573. DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2024.12.001.

Effect of Low Tube Voltage (100 kV) Combined with ASIR-V on the Visualization and Image Quality of the Adamkiewicz Artery: A Comparison with 120 kV Protocol.

Deng J, Ma T, Yan J, Wu S, Yan G, Li H Diagnostics (Basel). 2023; 13(15).

PMID: 37568857 PMC: 10417362. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13152495.

Lower-profile stent graft reduces the risk of embolism during thoracic endovascular aortic repair in shaggy aorta.

Seike Y, Masada K, Fukuda T, Yokawa K, Koizumi S, Kasai M Interdiscip Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2023; 36(5).

PMID: 37094223 PMC: 10191628. DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivad058.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair with collateral vessels from the femoral artery to Adamkiewicz's artery.

Noda K, Seike Y, Nishii T, Matsuda H Interdiscip Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2023; 36(1).

PMID: 36802260 PMC: 9931087. DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivad006.

Influence of Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstructions on CT Radiomic Features in Oncologic Patients.

Caruso D, Zerunian M, Pucciarelli F, Bracci B, Polici M, DArrigo B Diagnostics (Basel). 2021; 11(6).

PMID: 34072633 PMC: 8229560. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11061000.

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