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European Radiology

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01-01-2019 | Computed Tomography

Improved display of cervical intervertebral discs on water (iodine) images: incidental findings from single-source dual-energy CT angiography of head and neck arteries

Authors: Qingxia Wu, Dapeng Shi, Tianming Cheng, Hongming Liu, Niuniu Hu, Xiaowan Chang, Ying Guo, Meiyun Wang

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Objective

To (a) assess the diagnostic performance of material decomposition (MD) water (iodine) images for the evaluation of cervical intervertebral discs (IVDs) in patients who underwent dual-energy head and neck CT angiography (HNCTA) compared with 70-keV images and (b) to explore the correlation of water concentration with the T2 relaxation time of IVDs.

Materials and methods

Twenty-four consecutive patients who underwent dual-energy HNCTA and cervical spine MRI were studied. The diagnostic performance of water (iodine), 70-keV and MR images for IVD bulge and herniation was assessed. A subjective image score for each image set was recorded. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of IVDs to the cervical spinal cord were compared between water (iodine) and 70-keV images. Disc water concentration as measured on water (iodine) images was correlated with T2 relaxation time.

Results

IVD evaluations for bulge and herniation did not differ significantly among the three image sets (pairwise comparisons; all p > 0.05). SNR and CNR were significantly improved on water (iodine) images compared with those on 70-keV images (p < 0.001). Although water (iodine) images showed higher image quality scores when evaluating IVDs compared with 70-keV images, the difference is not significant (all adjusted p > 0.05). IVD water concentration exhibited no correlation with relative T2 relaxation time (all p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Water (iodine) images facilitated analysis of cervical IVDs by providing higher SNR and CNR compared with 70-keV images. The disc water concentration measured on water (iodine) images exhibited no correlation with relative T2 relaxation time.

Key Points

• There was no significant difference in cervical IVD evaluations for bulge and herniation among water (iodine) images, 70-keV images and MR images.

• Water (iodine) images provided higher objective and subjective image quality than 70-keV images, though the difference of subjective evaluation was not statistically significant.

• The disc water concentration exhibited no correlation with relative T2 relaxation time, which reflects the inferiority of the water (iodine) images in evaluating disc water content compared with T2 maps.

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Title: Improved display of cervical intervertebral discs on water (iodine) images: incidental findings from single-source dual-energy CT angiography of head and neck arteries
Authors: Qingxia Wu
Dapeng Shi
Tianming Cheng
Hongming Liu
Niuniu Hu
Xiaowan Chang
Ying Guo
Meiyun Wang
Publication date: 01-01-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5603-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Improved display of cervical intervertebral discs on water (iodine) images: incidental findings from single-source dual-energy CT angiography of head and neck arteries

Abstract

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Key Points

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Key Points

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