OBJECTIVE: Assessment of coronary artery calcification is increasingly used for cardiovascular risk stratification. We evaluated the reliability of calcium-scoring results using a novel iterative reconstruction algorithm (ASIR) on a high-definition 64-slice CT scanner, as such data is lacking. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 50 consecutive patients Agatston scores, calcium mass and volume score were assessed. Comparisons were performed between groups using filtered back projection (FBP) and 20-100% ASIR algorithms. Calcium score was measured in the coronary arteries, signal and noise were measured in the aortic root and left ventricle. In comparison with FBP, use of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% ASIR resulted in reduced image noise between groups (7.7%, 18.8%, 27.9%, 39.86%, and 48.56%, respectively; p<0.001) without difference in signal (p=0.60). With ASIR algorithms Agatston coronary calcium scoring significantly decreased compared with FBP algorithms (837.3 ± 130.3; 802.2 ± 124.9, 771.5 ± 120.7; 744.7 ± 116.8, 724.5 ± 114.2, and 709.2 ± 112.3 for 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% ASIR, respectively, p<0.001). Volumetric score decreased in a similar manner (p<0.001) while calcium mass remained unchanged. Mean effective radiation dose was 0.81 ± 0.08 mSv. CONCLUSION: ASIR results in image noise reduction. However, ASIR image reconstruction techniques for HDCT scans decrease Agatston coronary calcium scores. Thus, one needs to be aware of significant changes of the scoring results caused by different reconstruction methods.
OBJECTIVE: Assessment of coronary artery calcification is increasingly used for cardiovascular risk stratification. We evaluated the reliability of calcium-scoring results using a novel iterative reconstruction algorithm (ASIR) on a high-definition 64-slice CT scanner, as such data is lacking. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 50 consecutive patients Agatston scores, calcium mass and volume score were assessed. Comparisons were performed between groups using filtered back projection (FBP) and 20-100% ASIR algorithms. Calcium score was measured in the coronary arteries, signal and noise were measured in the aortic root and left ventricle. In comparison with FBP, use of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% ASIR resulted in reduced image noise between groups (7.7%, 18.8%, 27.9%, 39.86%, and 48.56%, respectively; p<0.001) without difference in signal (p=0.60). With ASIR algorithms Agatston coronary calcium scoring significantly decreased compared with FBP algorithms (837.3 ± 130.3; 802.2 ± 124.9, 771.5 ± 120.7; 744.7 ± 116.8, 724.5 ± 114.2, and 709.2 ± 112.3 for 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% ASIR, respectively, p<0.001). Volumetric score decreased in a similar manner (p<0.001) while calcium mass remained unchanged. Mean effective radiation dose was 0.81 ± 0.08 mSv. CONCLUSION: ASIR results in image noise reduction. However, ASIR image reconstruction techniques for HDCT scans decrease Agatston coronary calcium scores. Thus, one needs to be aware of significant changes of the scoring results caused by different reconstruction methods.
Authors: Bálint Szilveszter; Hesham Elzomor; Mihály Károlyi; Márton Kolossváry; Rolf Raaijmakers; Kálmán Benke; Csilla Celeng; Andrea Bartykowszki; Zsolt Bagyura; Árpád Lux; Béla Merkely; Pál Maurovich-Horvat Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2015-08-19 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Marvin Grossmann; Andreas A Giannopoulos; Fabiola A Bechtiger; Michael Messerli; Moritz Schwyzer; Dominik C Benz; Ken Kudura; Catherine Gebhard; Christoph Gräni; Aju P Pazhenkottil; Philipp A Kaufmann; Ronny R Buechel Journal: J Nucl Cardiol Date: 2018-06-19 Impact factor: 5.952
Authors: Tobias A Fuchs; Michael Fiechter; Cathérine Gebhard; Julia Stehli; Jelena R Ghadri; Egle Kazakauskaite; Bernhard A Herzog; Lars Husmann; Oliver Gaemperli; Philipp A Kaufmann Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2012-10-02 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Tobias A Fuchs; Julia Stehli; Michael Fiechter; Svetlana Dougoud; Bert-Ram Sah; Cathérine Gebhard; Sacha Bull; Oliver Gaemperli; Philipp A Kaufmann Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2013-05-01 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Jochen A C van Osch; Mohamed Mouden; Jorn A van Dalen; Jorik R Timmer; Stoffer Reiffers; Siert Knollema; Marcel J W Greuter; Jan Paul Ottervanger; Piet L Jager Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2014-03-28 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Christopher W Pavitt; Katie Harron; Alistair C Lindsay; Sayeh Zielke; Robin Ray; Daniel Gordon; Michael B Rubens; Simon P Padley; Edward D Nicol Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2015-08-09 Impact factor: 5.315