Residual Thromboembolic Material in Cerebral Arteries after XXXX Therapy Can Be Identified by Dual-Energy CT.

@entity1 @entity715 @entity64 @entity1779
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dual-energy CT features the opportunity to differentiate among up to 3 different materials because the absorption of x-rays depends on the applied tube voltage and the atomic number of the material. For example, it is possible to distinguish between blood-brain barrier disruption and an @entity1779 following treatment for a @entity64 . The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dual-energy CT is capable of distinguishing intra-arterial contrast agent from residually clotted vessels immediately after @entity64 therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen @entity1 (9 @entity1 , 7 @entity1 ; mean age, 63.6    13.09 years) were examined. Measurements were made on the postinterventional dual-energy CT virtual noncontrast, iodine map, and "weighted" brain window (weighted dual-energy) series. Postinterventional conventional angiography was used as the criterion standard method. RESULTS: A residual clot was found in 10 @entity1 . On the virtual noncontrast series, the Hounsfield attenuation of the clotted arteries was higher than that in the corresponding perfused contralateral arteries (53.72    9.42 HU versus 41.64    7.87 HU; P < .05). The latter had higher absorption values on the weighted dual-energy series than on the virtual noncontrast series (49.37    7.44 HU versus 41.64    7.87 HU; P < .05). The sensitivity for the detection of a residual clot was 90%; the specificity was 83.3%, and the accuracy was 87.5%. Interrater agreement was good (k = 0.733). CONCLUSIONS: Dual-energy CT may be valuable in the detection of clot persistence or early re- @entity715 without the necessity of additional contrast administration. However, its relevance for the prediction of outcomes remains to be determined in further studies.
