Noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic images and @entity1496 maps for the detection of venous thrombosis in second-generation dual-energy CT ( XXXX ): an ex vivo phantom study.

@entity1 @entity1496 @entity5748 @entity1150 @entity715
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: @entity1150 ( @entity1150 ) can be difficult to detect using CT due to poor and heterogeneous contrast. @entity5748 ( @entity5748 ) allows @entity1496 contrast optimization using noise-optimized monoenergetic extrapolations (MEIs) and @entity1496 maps (IMs). Our aim was to assess whether MEI and IM could improve the delineation of @entity715 material within @entity1496 -enhanced blood compared to single-energy CT (SECT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six vessel phantoms, including @entity1 @entity715 and contrast media-enhanced blood and one phantom without contrast, were placed in an attenuation phantom and scanned with @entity5748 100/140  kV and SECT 120  kV. IM, virtual non-contrast images (VNC), mixed images, and MEI were calculated. Attenuation of thrombi and blood were measured. Contrast and contrast-to-noise-ratios (CNRs) were calculated and compared among IM, VNC, mixed images, MEI, and SECT using paired t tests. RESULTS: MEI40keV and IM showed significantly higher contrast and CNR than SE120kV from high to intermediate @entity1496 concentrations (contrast:pMEI40keV   <   0.002,pIM   <   0.005;CNR:pMEI40keV   <   0.002,pIM   <   0.004). At low @entity1496 concentrations, MEI190keV and VNC images showed significantly higher contrast and CNR than SE120kV with inverted contrasts (contrast:pMEI190keV   <   0.008,pVNC   <   0.002;CNR:pMEI190keV   <   0.003,pVNC   <   0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Noise-optimized MEI and IM provide significantly higher contrast and CNR in the delineation of @entity715 compared to SECT, which may facilitate the detection of @entity1150 in difficult cases. KEY POINTS:     Poor contrast makes it difficult to detect @entity715 in CT.     Dual-energy-CT allows contrast optimization using monoenergetic extrapolations (MEI) and @entity1496 maps (IM).     Noise-optimized-MEI and IM are significantly superior to single-energy-CT in delineation of @entity715 .     Noise-optimized-MEI and IM may facilitate the detection of deep vein @entity715 .
