Dual-Energy Computed Tomography for Evaluating Acute Brain Infarction of Middle Cerebral Artery Territories: Optimization of Voltage Settings in Virtual Monoenergetic Imaging. Issue 3 (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoshida, Morikatsu; Nakaura, Takeshi; Tanoue, Shota; Takada, Sentaro; Inoue, Taihei; Uetani, Hiroyuki; Harada, Kazunori; Yamashita, Yasuyuki
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer assisted tomography. Volume 43:Issue 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: acute brain infarction -- dual-energy CT -- effective atomic number -- electron density -- middle cerebral artery -- virtual monochromatic energy image; Tomography -- Periodicals; Tomography -- Periodicals; Tomography; Periodicals; 616.0757
• DOI: 10.1097/RCT.0000000000000869
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-8715

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To evaluate the optimal virtual monochromatic energy in dual-energy computed tomography for differentiating between infarcted areas and normal brain parenchyma. Methods: We enrolled 29 patients with middle cerebral artery acute brain infarction of who underwent examination by dual-energy computed tomography. We calculated the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between white or gray matter and the infarcted area (CNR(W-I) and CNR(G-I), respectively) and normalized CNRs. From the normalized CNRs, we assessed which monochromatic energy gave the best balance between the infarcted area and normal brain parenchyma. The 70-keV images were used for comparison. Results: The 99-keV images demonstrated the best balance between the infarction and normal brain parenchyma. In quantitative analysis, the 99-keV images were not inferior to the 70-keV images. (CNR(G-I), 1.92 ± 0.80 vs 2.00 ± 0.70, respectively [ P = 0.16]; CNR(W-I), 0.52 ± 0.72 vs 0.40 ± 0.64, P < 0.01, respectively). Conclusions: Monochromatic 99-keV energy images may be optimal for evaluating middle cerebral artery acute brain infarction.