Objective To evaluate the effects of the SmartPhase function that automatically selects the optimal cardiac phase for
reconstruction combined with a motion correction algorism (named Snap-Shoot Freeze, SSF) on improving image quality in the
coronary CT angiography (CCTA) for arrhythmia patients. Methods Data of thirty patients with arrhythmia who underwent CCTA
were enrolled. CCTA image raw data was obtained in single cardiac phase and the scanning window was selected based on the
recommendation from AutoGating. Images were reconstructed using the cardiac phase recommended by SmartPhase, with the
application of SSF (group A) or with SSF (group B). The CT value and noise of the aortic arch root at the level of the left coronary
artery were measured and the signal to noise ratio (SNR) was calculated. The main coronary artery scorings were performed
independently. The artery image quality scores and SNR from the two groups were analyzed using the rank sum test. Results Three
of 120 coronary arteries from group A could not meet the requirements of clinical diagnosis while all coronary arteries from group
B could be diagnosed. The SNR of the aortic arch root were not different between the two groups (14.45±3.41 vs. 14.48±3.43,
P=0.677). The image quality scores of right coronary artery (RCA), left main coronary artery (LM), left circumflex artery (LCX)
and left anterior descending (LAD) from Group A were 3.44±0.75, 4.03±0.19, 3.71±0.52, 3.96±0.3, while the scores for group
B were 4.08±0.70, 4.16±0.37, 3.96±0.54, 4.04±0.4. RCA and LCX from Group B were significant higher than that of group
A (P=0.000 and P=0.014), while there was no statistically difference between the groups in LM and LAD. SSF can significantly
improve RCA and LCX’s image quality. Conclusion SmartPhase combined with SSF in the coronary CT angiography is feasible in
patients with arrhythmia and can provide good quality images for clinical diagnosis.
ZHANG Dongqing, SHI Pujun, CAI Xiansheng, et al. , {{custom_author.name_en}}et al.
Application of Automated Optimal Phase Selection Combined with Motion Correction
Algorism in Coronary CT Angiography for Arrhythmia Patients[J].
China Medical Devices, 2018, 33(8): 90-93 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-1633.2018.08.022