Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of coronary stent image subtraction using spectral tools derived from dual-layer spectral computed tomography (CT). Forty-three patients (65 stents) who underwent coronary CT angiography using dual-layer spectral CT were included. Conventional, 50-keV (kilo electron-volt), 100-keV, and virtual non-contrast (VNC) images were reconstructed from the same cardiac phase. Stents were subtracted on VNC images from conventional (convsub), 100-keV (100-keVsub), and 50-keV (50-keVsub) images. The in-stent lumen diameters were measured on subtraction, conventional, and 100-keV images. Subjective evaluation of reader confidence and subtractive quality was evaluated. Friedman tests were performed to compare in-stent lumen diameters and subjective evaluation among different images. Correlation between stent diameter and subjective evaluation was expressed as Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs). The diagnostic accuracy was assessed according to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) performed in 11 patients (20 stents). In-stent lumen diameters were significantly larger on subtraction images than those on conventional and 100-keV images (p < 0.05). Higher reader confidence was found on 100-keV, convsub, 100-keVsub, and 50-keVsub images compared with conventional images (p < 0.05). Subtractive quality of 100-keVsub images was better than that of convsub images (p = 0.037). A moderate-to-strong correlation between stent diameter and subjective evaluation was found (rs = 0.527~0.790, p < 0.05). Higher specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of subtraction images were shown by ICA results. Subtraction images derived from dual-layer spectral CT enhanced in-stent lumen visibility and could potentially improve diagnostic performance for evaluating coronary stents. • Dual-layer spectral CT enabled good subtractive quality of coronary stents without misregistration artifacts. • Subtraction images could improve in-stent lumen visibility. • Reader confidence and diagnostic performance were enhanced with subtraction images.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
