Keywords:
Cardiac, Cardiovascular system, CT, CT-Angiography, Image manipulation / Reconstruction, Comparative studies, Technical aspects, Cardiac Assist Devices
Authors:
F. Tatsugami, T. Higaki, M. Kiguchi, S. Date, K. Awai; Hiroshima/JP
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-0595
Purpose
Introduction:
In coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA),
prospective ECG triggering scanning can be used in patients with a stable sinus rhythm and a low heart rate [1,
2].
In this technique,
the CT scan is usually performed at the center of the mid-diastole phase at around 75% of the R-R interval [3].
As the best phase for diagnosis varies from patient to patient,
redundant scan data (padding) centered on mid-diastole are usually acquired [3,
4].
A final image for evaluation of the coronary arteries is reconstructed by selecting the phase with the fewest motion artifacts; data reconstructed from another phase are not used for diagnosis.
Purpose:
We introduce a new method for image noise reduction at coronary CTA that uses the multi-phase images reconstructed from unused redundant scan data.
It reduces image noise by averaging multi-phase images transformed by non-rigid image registration. The purpose of our study was to investigate the clinical feasibility of our noise reduction technique at coronary CTA.