Relationship between diverse patient body size- and image acquisition-related factors, and quantitative and qualitative image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography: a multicenter observational study

Daisuke Utsunomiya; Ryoichi Tanaka; Kunihiro Yoshioka; Kazuo Awai; Teruhito Mochizuki; Naofumi Matsunaga; Tomoaki Ichikawa; Masayuki Kanematsu; Tonsok Kim; Yasuyuki Yamashita

doi:10.1007/s11604-016-0556-0

Relationship between diverse patient body size- and image acquisition-related factors, and quantitative and qualitative image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography: a multicenter observational study

Jpn J Radiol. 2016 Aug;34(8):548-55. doi: 10.1007/s11604-016-0556-0. Epub 2016 Jun 7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1, Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, 860-8556, Japan. utsunomi@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
² Division of Cardiovascular Radiology, Department of Radiology, Iwate Medical University Hospital, Morioka City, Japan.
³ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima City, Japan.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon City, Japan.
⁵ Department of Radiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Use City, Japan.
⁶ Department of Radiology, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Hidaka City, Japan.
⁷ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center, Gifu City, Japan.
⁸ Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita City, Japan.
⁹ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1, Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, 860-8556, Japan.

PMID: 27271279
DOI: 10.1007/s11604-016-0556-0

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated the effects of patient- and image acquisition-related factors on the image quality in coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Materials and methods: We enrolled 1197 patients (728 men; 65 ± 12 years). All underwent CCTA under the routine scan protocol in 23 participating hospitals. The subjective image quality (3-point Likert scale: excellent, good, and poor) and the attenuation of the left and right coronary artery (LCA, RCA) were recorded; the effects of patient and image acquisition-related factors on vascular attenuation were then compared.

Results: The mean LCA attenuation was 515.2 ± 65.8 (excellent), 401.4 ± 63.4 (good), and 319.5 ± 47.6 HU (poor). The corresponding RCA attenuation was 496.6 ± 67.6, 390.5 ± 58.5, and 308.5 ± 50.7 HU, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between sufficient coronary attenuation (> 400 HU) and the age, gender, body surface area (BSA), number of detectors, contrast synchronization, scan mode, and the fractional contrast dose. Multivariate analysis revealed that the bolus tracking method, prospective electrocardiogram gating, and fractional contrast dose were significantly associated with sufficient coronary enhancement.

Conclusion: BSA and fractional contrast dose are the most important patient- and image acquisition-related factors for sufficient coronary attenuation in CCTA.

Keywords: Body size; Contrast media; Coronary vessels; Multicenter study; Multidetector computed tomography.

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Observational Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Body Size*
Body Surface Area
Computed Tomography Angiography / methods*
Coronary Angiography / methods*
Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging*
Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multidetector Computed Tomography / methods*
Prospective Studies
Reproducibility of Results
Young Adult