Photon-Counting Detector CT-Based Vascular Calcium Removal Algorithm: Assessment Using a Cardiac Motion Phantom

Objectives The diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography angiography is known to be negatively affected by the presence of severely calcified plaques in the coronary arteries. In this article, the performance of a novel image reconstruction algorithm (PureLumen) based on spectral CT data of a first-generation dual-source photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) system was assessed in a phantom study. PureLumen tries to remove only the calcified contributions from the image while leaving the rest unmodified. Materials and Methods The study uses 2 iodine contrast filled vessel phantoms (diameter 4 mm) filled with different concentrations of iodine and equipped with calcified stenosis inserts. Each phantom features 2 separate calcified lesions of 25% and 50% percentage diameter stenosis (PDS) size. The vessel phantoms were mounted inside an anthropomorphic thorax phantom attached to an artificial motion device, simulating realistic cardiac motion at heart rates between 50 beats per minute and 100 beats per minute. Acquisitions were performed using a prospectively electrocardiogram triggered dual-source sequence mode on a PCD-CT system (NAEOTOM Alpha, Siemens Healthineers). Images were reconstructed at 80% of the RR interval with virtual monoenergetic images (Mono) and with additional calcium-removal (PureLumen), both at 65 keV. PureLumen is based on a spectral base material decomposition into iodine and calcium, which aims to reconstruct imag...
Source: Investigative Radiology - Category: Radiology Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research