TY  - JOUR
A1  - Grunz, Jan-Peter
A1  - Wenig, Andreas Max
A1  - Kunz, Andreas Steven
A1  - Veyhl-Wichmann, Maike
A1  - Schmitt, Rainer
A1  - Gietzen, Carsten Herbert
A1  - Pennig, Lenhard
A1  - Herz, Stefan
A1  - Ergün, Süleyman
A1  - Bley, Thorsten Alexander
A1  - Gassenmaier, Tobias
T1  - 3D cone-beam CT with a twin robotic x-ray system in elbow imaging: comparison of image quality to high-resolution multidetector CT
JF  - European Radiology Experimental
N2  - Background
Elbow imaging is challenging with conventional multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), while cone-beam CT (CBCT) provides superior options. We compared intra-individually CBCT versus MDCT image quality in cadaveric elbows.

Methods
A twin robotic x-ray system with new CBCT mode and a high-resolution clinical MDCT were compared in 16 cadaveric elbows. Both systems were operated with a dedicated low-dose (LD) protocol (equivalent volume CT dose index [CTDI\(_{vol(16 cm)}\)] = 3.3 mGy) and a regular clinical scan dose (RD) protocol (CTDI\(_{vol(16 cm)}\) = 13.8 mGy). Image quality was evaluated by two radiologists (R1 and R2) on a seven-point Likert scale, and estimation of signal intensity in cancellous bone was conducted. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) statistics were used.

Results
The CBCT prototype provided superior subjective image quality compared to MDCT scans (for RD, p ≤ 0.004; for LD, p ≤ 0.001). Image quality was rated very good or excellent in 100% of the cases by both readers for RD CBCT, 100% (R1) and 93.8% (R2) for LD CBCT, 62.6% and 43.8% for RD MDCT, and 0.0% and 0.0% for LD MDCT. Single-measure ICC was 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.91–0.97; p < 0.001). Software-based assessment supported subjective findings with less “undecided” pixels in CBCT than dose-equivalent MDCT (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between LD CBCT and RD MDCT.
Conclusions

In cadaveric elbow studies, the tested cone-beam CT prototype delivered superior image quality compared to high-end multidetector CT and showed a potential for considerable dose reduction.
KW  - Cancellous bone
KW  - Cone-beam computed tomography
KW  - Elbow
KW  - Elbow joint
KW  - Multidetector computed tomography
Y1  - 2020
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229877
VL  - 4
ER  -