Abstract:Objective To investigate the feasibility of improving image quality in CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), enhancing the
efficiency of embolus detection and reducing radiation dose with noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI+) technology.
Methods A total of 61 patients who took CTPA examinations in our hospital were selected as the research subjects and randomly
divided into two groups. 30 patients underwent dual-energy imaging (80/Sn140 kV, group A) and 31 patients underwent singleenergy
imaging (120 kV, group B). Group A used linear blending technique (LB) to obtain LB images with M=0.6 (group A1), and
VMI40+ images (group A2) and VMI60+ images (group A3) were obtained by using VMI+ technique.The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),
contrast signal-to-noise ratio (CNR), and subjective image quality among four groups were compared. The quantity of embolus and
display resolution in group A1, A2 and A3 were compared. The radiation dose of group A was compared with group B. Results The
CNR values of group A2 and A3 were significantly higher than those of group A1 and group B (P<0.05). The SNR of group A3 was
higher than that of group A2 (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences among group A1, group A3 and group B
(P>0.05). There was significant difference in subjective score of image quality among the four groups (P<0.05), and the score of A3
group was the highest. There was no statistically significant difference in the display resolution and quantity of embolus shown in sub
segmental pulmonary arteries between group A2 and group A3 (P>0.05), however they were higher than group A1 (P<0.05). The
effective radiation dose of group A was lower than that of group B (P<0.05). Conclusion VMI+ technology can improve the quality
of CTPA images and the efficiency of embolus detection, as well as reduce radiation exposure which can provide more reliable image
data for clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
易思琪,胡仕北,何雅坤,何长久. 噪声优化的虚拟单能量成像技术在双能量CTPA图像中的应用研究[J]. 中国医疗设备, 2022, 37(8): 108-113.
YI Siqi, HU Shibei, HE Yakun, HE Changjiu. Application Study of Noise-Optimized Virtual Monochromatic Imaging Technology in
Dual-Energy CTPA Images. China Medical Devices, 2022, 37(8): 108-113.