Nico Buls1, Yannick de Brucker2, Dimitri Aerden3, Hannes Devos4, Gert Van Gompel5, Pieter Thomas Boonen6, Koenraad Nieboer7, Tim Leiner8, Johan de Mey9. 1. Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Nico.Buls@uzbrussel.be. 2. Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Yannick.DeBrucker@uzbrussel.be. 3. Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Dimitri.Aerden@uzbrussel.be. 4. Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Hannes.Devos@uzbrussel.be. 5. Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Gert.VanGompel@uzbrussel.be. 6. Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: bpieter.boonen@gmail.com. 7. Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Koenraad.Nieboer@uzbrussel.be. 8. Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, P. O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: T.Leiner@umcutrecht.nl. 9. Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Johan.DeMey@uzbrussel.be.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Run-off Computed Tomography Angiography (run-off CTA) of the lower extremities has become the method of choice for the diagnostic imaging of patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, it remains a challenging radiological examination with a considerable risk of non-diagnostic image quality for the assessment of below-the-knee arteries. In this study, we investigate the diagnostic benefit of adding time-resolved CT scan series to the standard run-off CTA by performing repeated axial acquisitions over the calves of the patient during a second bolus of iodinated contrast injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 20 patients (9 male, 11 female; mean age 66.1 ± 14.9 years) who received a standard run-off CTA and an additional time-resolved CT scan series after a 10 min delay. The time-resolved series consisted of 18 repeated axial acquisitions over the calves directly below the knee with a 2 s interphase delay. For both series, two observers independently assessed the anterior tibial, posterior tibial and peroneal arteries of both legs for following criteria: arterial enhancement, presence and degree of stenosis, the confidence of grading, degree of stenosis and venous overlay. Quantitative assessment of arterial enhancement was performed by measuring the mean CT values (HU) in all arteries. Radiation exposure was quantified by the effective dose. RESULTS: A total of 118 arteries were assessed. The observer study showed that the additional time-resolved series improved both arterial enhancement (64% considered optimal enhanced versus 44%) and diagnostic confidence (59% considered as certain versus 33%) for the assessment of arterial stenosis (all p < 0.05). Venous overlay reduced from 15% to 6%. In all three arteries, the measured contrast enhancement by CT values (HU) was considerably higher (average 48%, p < 0.05) with the time-resolved series. The time-resolved series had an effect on stenosis classification (p = 0.03): a higher number of arteries were graded as having a non-significant stenosis (78.8% versus 71.2%). The interobserver variability in stenosis classification improved from κ = 0.39 to κ = 0.61. The mean effective dose was 5.1 ± 1.3 mSv for the run-off CTA and 0.2 ± 0.07 mSv for the time-resolved series. Per patient, a total volume of 140 mL contrast agent was injected. CONCLUSION: A dynamic CT scan protocol with repeated axial series can be added to a standard helical run-off CTA sequence for the lower extremities within the same CT examination, and it increases image quality and diagnostic confidence for the assessment of presence and degree of arterial stenosis in below-the-knee arteries.
PURPOSE: Run-off Computed Tomography Angiography (run-off CTA) of the lower extremities has become the method of choice for the diagnostic imaging of patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, it remains a challenging radiological examination with a considerable risk of non-diagnostic image quality for the assessment of below-the-knee arteries. In this study, we investigate the diagnostic benefit of adding time-resolved CT scan series to the standard run-off CTA by performing repeated axial acquisitions over the calves of the patient during a second bolus of iodinated contrast injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 20 patients (9 male, 11 female; mean age 66.1 ± 14.9 years) who received a standard run-off CTA and an additional time-resolved CT scan series after a 10 min delay. The time-resolved series consisted of 18 repeated axial acquisitions over the calves directly below the knee with a 2 s interphase delay. For both series, two observers independently assessed the anterior tibial, posterior tibial and peroneal arteries of both legs for following criteria: arterial enhancement, presence and degree of stenosis, the confidence of grading, degree of stenosis and venous overlay. Quantitative assessment of arterial enhancement was performed by measuring the mean CT values (HU) in all arteries. Radiation exposure was quantified by the effective dose. RESULTS: A total of 118 arteries were assessed. The observer study showed that the additional time-resolved series improved both arterial enhancement (64% considered optimal enhanced versus 44%) and diagnostic confidence (59% considered as certain versus 33%) for the assessment of arterial stenosis (all p < 0.05). Venous overlay reduced from 15% to 6%. In all three arteries, the measured contrast enhancement by CT values (HU) was considerably higher (average 48%, p < 0.05) with the time-resolved series. The time-resolved series had an effect on stenosis classification (p = 0.03): a higher number of arteries were graded as having a non-significant stenosis (78.8% versus 71.2%). The interobserver variability in stenosis classification improved from κ = 0.39 to κ = 0.61. The mean effective dose was 5.1 ± 1.3 mSv for the run-off CTA and 0.2 ± 0.07 mSv for the time-resolved series. Per patient, a total volume of 140 mL contrast agent was injected. CONCLUSION: A dynamic CT scan protocol with repeated axial series can be added to a standard helical run-off CTA sequence for the lower extremities within the same CT examination, and it increases image quality and diagnostic confidence for the assessment of presence and degree of arterial stenosis in below-the-knee arteries.
Authors: Nigar Salimova; Jan B Hinrichs; Marcel Gutberlet; Bernhard C Meyer; Frank K Wacker; Christian von Falck Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2021-12-13 Impact factor: 7.034