Single-energy metal artifact reduction for helical computed tomography of the pelvis in patients with metal hip prostheses.
PURPOSE
To compare the quality of helical computed tomography (CT) images of the pelvis in patients with metal hip prostheses reconstructed using adaptive iterative dose reduction (AIDR) and AIDR with single-energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR-A).


MATERIALS AND METHODS
This retrospective study included 28 patients (mean age, 64.6 ± 11.4 years; 6 men and 22 women). CT images were reconstructed using AIDR and SEMAR-A. Two radiologists evaluated the extent of metal artifacts and the depiction of structures in the pelvic region and looked for mass lesions. A radiologist placed a region of interest within the bladder and recorded CT attenuation.


RESULTS
The metal artifacts were significantly reduced in SEMAR-A as compared to AIDR (p < 0.0001). The depictions of the bladder, ureter, prostate/uterus, rectum, and pelvic sidewall were significantly better with SEMAR-A than with AIDR (p < 0.02). All lesions were diagnosed with SEMAR-A, while some were not diagnosed with AIDR. The median and interquartile range (in parentheses) of CT attenuation within the bladder for AIDR were -34.0 (-46.6 to -15.0) Hounsfield units (HU) and were more variable than those seen for SEMAR-A [5.4 (-1.3 to 11.1)] HU (p = 0.033).


CONCLUSION
In comparison with AIDR, SEMAR-A provided pelvic CT images of significantly better quality for patients with metal hip prostheses.
['Yasaka|Koichiro|K|', 'Maeda|Eriko|E|', 'Hanaoka|Shouhei|S|', 'Katsura|Masaki|M|', 'Sato|Jiro|J|', 'Ohtomo|Kuni|K|']
D000368:Aged D016477:Artifacts D005260:Female D006622:Hip Prosthesis D006801:Humans D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted D008297:Male D008670:Metals D008875:Middle Aged D010388:Pelvis D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted D012189:Retrospective Studies D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
Metal artifact reduction Computed tomography Pelvis Metal hip prosthesis