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Published in: European Radiology 1/2011

01-01-2011 | Vascular-Interventional

High-pitch dual-source CT angiography of the aortic valve-aortic root complex without ECG-synchronization

Authors: Christoph Karlo, Sebastian Leschka, Robert Paul Goetti, Gudrun Feuchtner, Lotus Desbiolles, Paul Stolzmann, Andre Plass, Volkmar Falk, Borut Marincek, Hatem Alkadhi, Stephan Baumüller

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 1/2011

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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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Metadata
Title
High-pitch dual-source CT angiography of the aortic valve-aortic root complex without ECG-synchronization
Authors
Christoph Karlo
Sebastian Leschka
Robert Paul Goetti
Gudrun Feuchtner
Lotus Desbiolles
Paul Stolzmann
Andre Plass
Volkmar Falk
Borut Marincek
Hatem Alkadhi
Stephan Baumüller
Publication date
01-01-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 1/2011
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1907-3

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