Dual-Energy Lung Perfusion in Portal Venous Phase CT-A Comparison with the Pulmonary Arterial Phase.

Isabelle Praël,Markus Kopp,Michael Uder,Marco Wiesmueller,Wolfgang Wuest,Matthias S May,Rafael Heiss

doi:10.3390/diagnostics11111989

Isabelle Praël, Markus Kopp + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11111989

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Abstract

Pulmonary arterial dual-energy (aDE) CT is an established technique for evaluating pulmonary perfusion blood volume (PBV). As DECT protocols are increasingly used for thoraco-abdominal CT, this study assessed image quality and clinical findings in portal–venous phase dual-energy (vDE) CT and compared it to aDE. In 95 patients, vDE-CT was performed using a dual-source scanner (70/Sn150 kV, 560/140 ref.mAs). Pulmonary triggered aDE-CT served as reference (n = 94). PBV was reconstructed using a dedicated algorithm. Mean relative attenuation was measured in the pulmonary trunk, aorta, and segmented lung parenchyma. A distribution ratio (DL) between vessels and parenchyma was calculated to assess the iodine uptake of the lung parenchyma. Subjective overall diagnostic image quality was assessed for PBV images on a five-point Likert scale. Image artifacts were classified into five groups based on scale rating and compared between vDE and aDE. Pathological findings were correlated with the anatomical image datasets. Mean relative attenuation of the lung parenchyma was comparable in both groups (vDE: 23 ± 6 HU and aDE: 22 ± 7 HU), but significantly lower in the vessels of vDE. Therefore, iodine uptake of the lung parenchyma was significantly higher in vDE (DL: 10% vs. 8%, p < 0.01). The subjective overall image quality of the PBV images was comparable (p = 0.5). Rotation and streak artifacts were found in most of the patients (>86%, both p > 0.6). Dual-source artifacts were found in only a few patients in both groups (vDE 5%, aDE 7%, p = 0.5). Recess and subpleural artifacts were increased in vDE (vDE 53/27%, aDE 24/7%, both p < 0.001). Pathological findings were found in 19% of the vDE patients and 59% of the aDE patients. Comparable objective and subjective image quality of lung perfusion can be obtained in vDE and aDE. Iodine uptake of the lung parenchyma is increased in vDE compared to aDE, suggesting an interstitial pooling effect. Knowledge of the different appearances of artifacts will aid in the interpretation of the images. Additional clinical information about the lung parenchyma can be provided by PBV evaluation in vDE.

Highlights

Dual-energy CT (DECT) is a well-established and often used technique in the field of thoracic imaging
Objective image quality was compared between venous phase dualenergy (vDE) and arterial dual-energy (aDE)/aDEex using a paired t-test
perfusion blood volume (PBV) findings were identified in 18 vDE patients (19%) and in 51 aDE patients (59%, 23 in aDEex 37%)

Summary

Introduction

Dual-energy CT (DECT) is a well-established and often used technique in the field of thoracic imaging. Koike et al [8] quantified lung PBV in patients with chronic PTE in early and late aDE with fixed timing of 14 and 40 s after contrast injection and concluded that global perfusion from systemic collaterals can be depicted. We speculated that PBV reconstructions from vDE provide different functional information compared to aDE, making it difficult for radiologists to evaluate these images [9]. Our aim was to assess physiology, image quality, and incidental findings of lung PBV images in vDE from patients who underwent thoracoabdominal staging CT and to compare these to aDE, following the null-hypothesis that there are no differences

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