OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of sparse sampling computed tomography (SpSCT) regarding subjective and objective image criteria for the detection of pulmonary embolism (PE) at different simulated dose levels. METHODS: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) scans of 20 clinical patients were used to obtain simulated low-dose scans with 100%-50%-25%-12.5%-6.3%-3.1% of the clinical dose, resulting in a total of six dose levels (DL). From these full sampling (FS) data, every second (2-SpSCT) or fourth (4-SpSCT) projection was used to obtain simulated sparse sampling scans. Each image set was evaluated by four blinded radiologists regarding subjective image criteria (artifacts, image quality) and diagnostic performance (confidence, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve). Additionally, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated for objective image quality. RESULTS: Sensitivity was 100% with 2-SpSCT and 4-SpSCT at the 25% DL and the 12.5% DL for all localizations of PE (one subgroup 98.5%). With FS, the sensitivity decreased to 90% at the 12.5% DL. 2-SpSCT and 4-SpSCT showed higher values for sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the curve at all DL compared with FS. Subjective image quality was significantly higher for 4-SpSCT compared with FS at each dose level (p < 0.01, paired t test). Only with 4-SpSCT, all examinations were rated as showing diagnostic image quality at the 12.5% DL. CONCLUSIONS: Via SpSCT, a dose reduction down to a 12.5% dose level (corresponding to a mean effective dose of 0.38 mSv in the current study) for CTPA is possible while maintaining high image quality and full diagnostic confidence. KEY POINTS: • With sparse sampling CT, radiation dose could be significantly reduced in clinical routine. • Sparse sampling CT is a novel hardware solution with which less projection images are acquired. • In the current study, a dose reduction of 87.5% (corresponding to a mean effective dose of 0.38 mSv) for CTPA could be achieved while maintaining excellent diagnostic performance.
OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of sparse sampling computed tomography (SpSCT) regarding subjective and objective image criteria for the detection of pulmonary embolism (PE) at different simulated dose levels. METHODS: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) scans of 20 clinical patients were used to obtain simulated low-dose scans with 100%-50%-25%-12.5%-6.3%-3.1% of the clinical dose, resulting in a total of six dose levels (DL). From these full sampling (FS) data, every second (2-SpSCT) or fourth (4-SpSCT) projection was used to obtain simulated sparse sampling scans. Each image set was evaluated by four blinded radiologists regarding subjective image criteria (artifacts, image quality) and diagnostic performance (confidence, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve). Additionally, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated for objective image quality. RESULTS: Sensitivity was 100% with 2-SpSCT and 4-SpSCT at the 25% DL and the 12.5% DL for all localizations of PE (one subgroup 98.5%). With FS, the sensitivity decreased to 90% at the 12.5% DL. 2-SpSCT and 4-SpSCT showed higher values for sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the curve at all DL compared with FS. Subjective image quality was significantly higher for 4-SpSCT compared with FS at each dose level (p < 0.01, paired t test). Only with 4-SpSCT, all examinations were rated as showing diagnostic image quality at the 12.5% DL. CONCLUSIONS: Via SpSCT, a dose reduction down to a 12.5% dose level (corresponding to a mean effective dose of 0.38 mSv in the current study) for CTPA is possible while maintaining high image quality and full diagnostic confidence. KEY POINTS: • With sparse sampling CT, radiation dose could be significantly reduced in clinical routine. • Sparse sampling CT is a novel hardware solution with which less projection images are acquired. • In the current study, a dose reduction of 87.5% (corresponding to a mean effective dose of 0.38 mSv) for CTPA could be achieved while maintaining excellent diagnostic performance.
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