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This study evaluated the influence of different vascular reconstruction kernels on the image quality of CT angiographies of the lower extremity runoff using a 1st-generation photon-counting-detector CT (PCD-CT) compared with dose-matched examinations on a 3rd-generation energy-integrating-detector CT (EID-CT). Inducing continuous extracorporeal perfusion in a human cadaveric model, we performed CT angiographies of eight upper leg arterial runoffs with radiation dose-equivalent 120 kVp acquisition protocols (CTDIvol 5 mGy). Reconstructions were executed with different vascular kernels, matching the individual modulation transfer functions between scanners. Signal-to-noise-ratios (SNR) and contrast-to-noise-ratios (CNR) were computed to assess objective image quality. Six radiologists evaluated image quality subjectively using a forced-choice pairwise comparison tool. Interrater agreement was determined by calculating Kendall’s concordance coefficient (W). The intraluminal attenuation of PCD-CT images was significantly higher than of EID-CT (414.7 ± 27.3 HU vs. 329.3 ± 24.5 HU; p < 0.001). Using comparable kernels, image noise with PCD-CT was significantly lower than with EID-CT (p ≤ 0.044). Correspondingly, SNR and CNR were approximately twofold higher for PCD-CT (p < 0.001). Increasing the spatial frequency for PCD-CT reconstructions by one level resulted in similar metrics compared to EID-CT (CNRfat; EID-CT Bv49: 21.7 ± 3.7 versus PCD-CT Bv60: 21.4 ± 3.5). Overall image quality of PCD-CTA achieved ratings superior to EID-CTA irrespective of the used reconstruction kernels (best: PCD-CT Bv60; worst: EID-CT Bv40; p < 0.001). Interrater agreement was good (W = 0.78). Concluding, PCD-CT offers superior intraluminal attenuation, SNR, and CNR compared to EID-CT in angiographies of the upper leg arterial runoff. Combined with improved subjective image quality, PCD-CT facilitates the use of sharper convolution kernels and ultimately bears the potential of improved vascular structure assessability.
Objectives: Dual-source dual-energy CT (DECT) facilitates reconstruction of virtual non-contrast images from contrast-enhanced scans within a limited field of view. This study evaluates the replacement of true non-contrast acquisition with virtual non-contrast reconstructions and investigates the limitations of dual-source DECT in obese patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 253 oncologic patients (153 women; age 64.5 ± 16.2 years; BMI 26.6 ± 5.1 kg/m\(^2\)) received both multi-phase single-energy CT (SECT) and DECT in sequential staging examinations with a third-generation dual-source scanner. Patients were allocated to one of three BMI clusters: non-obese: <25 kg/m\(^2\) (n = 110), pre-obese: 25–29.9 kg/m\(^2\) (n = 73), and obese: >30 kg/m\(^2\) (n = 70). Radiation dose and image quality were compared for each scan. DECT examinations were evaluated regarding liver coverage within the dual-energy field of view. Results: While arterial contrast phases in DECT were associated with a higher CTDI\(_{vol}\) than in SECT (11.1 vs. 8.1 mGy; p < 0.001), replacement of true with virtual non-contrast imaging resulted in a considerably lower overall dose-length product (312.6 vs. 475.3 mGy·cm; p < 0.001). The proportion of DLP variance predictable from patient BMI was substantial in DECT (R\(^2\) = 0.738) and SECT (R\(^2\) = 0.620); however, DLP of SECT showed a stronger increase in obese patients (p < 0.001). Incomplete coverage of the liver within the dual-energy field of view was most common in the obese subgroup (17.1%) compared with non-obese (0%) and pre-obese patients (4.1%). Conclusion: DECT facilitates a 30.8% dose reduction over SECT in abdominal oncologic staging examinations. Employing dual-source scanner architecture, the risk for incomplete liver coverage increases in obese patients.