Efficacy of 'fine' focal spot imaging in CT abdominal angiography.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Efficacy of 'fine' focal spot imaging in CT abdominal angiography.
Authors:	Oh, Lawrence¹ chia.wei.oh@gmail.com, Lau, Kenneth, Devapalasundaram, Ashwini¹, Buchan, Kevin², Ardley, Nicholas¹, Huynh, Minh³
Source:	European Radiology. Dec2014, Vol. 24 Issue 12, p3010-3016. 7p.
Subjects:	Abdominal radiography, Computed tomography, Angiography, Diagnostic imaging, Medical radiology
Abstract:	Objectives: To assess the efficacy of fine focal spot imaging in calcification beam-hardening artefact reduction and vessel clarity on CT abdominal angiography (CTAA). Methods: Adult patients of any age and gender who presented for CTAA were included. Thirty-nine patients were examined with a standard focal spot size (SFSS) of 1 × 1 mm in the first 3 months while 31 consecutive patients were examined with a fine focal spot size (FFSS) of 1 × 0.5 mm in the following 3 months. Vessel clarity and calcification beam-hardening artefacts of the abdominal aorta, celiac axis, superior mesenteric artery, inferior mesenteric artery, renal arteries, and iliac arteries were assessed using a 5-point grading scale by two blinded radiologists randomly. Results: Cohen's Kappa test indicated that on average, there was substantial agreement among reviewers for vessel wall clarity and calcification artefact grading. Mann-Whitney test showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups, with FFSS performing significantly better for vessel clarity ( U, 6481.50; p < 0.001; r, 0.73) and calcification artefact reduction ( U, 1916; p < 0.001; r, 0.77). Conclusion: Fine focus CT angiography produces images with better vessel wall clarity and less vessel calcification beam-hardening artefact. Key Points: • Focal spot size affects the spatial resolution of a CT system. • Fine focus CTAA produces images with improved vessel wall clarity. • Fine focus CTAA is associated with fewer calcification beam-hardening artefacts. • Fine focus CTAA may improve accuracy in assessment of luminal stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	Objectives: To assess the efficacy of fine focal spot imaging in calcification beam-hardening artefact reduction and vessel clarity on CT abdominal angiography (CTAA). Methods: Adult patients of any age and gender who presented for CTAA were included. Thirty-nine patients were examined with a standard focal spot size (SFSS) of 1 × 1 mm in the first 3 months while 31 consecutive patients were examined with a fine focal spot size (FFSS) of 1 × 0.5 mm in the following 3 months. Vessel clarity and calcification beam-hardening artefacts of the abdominal aorta, celiac axis, superior mesenteric artery, inferior mesenteric artery, renal arteries, and iliac arteries were assessed using a 5-point grading scale by two blinded radiologists randomly. Results: Cohen's Kappa test indicated that on average, there was substantial agreement among reviewers for vessel wall clarity and calcification artefact grading. Mann-Whitney test showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups, with FFSS performing significantly better for vessel clarity ( U, 6481.50; p < 0.001; r, 0.73) and calcification artefact reduction ( U, 1916; p < 0.001; r, 0.77). Conclusion: Fine focus CT angiography produces images with better vessel wall clarity and less vessel calcification beam-hardening artefact. Key Points: • Focal spot size affects the spatial resolution of a CT system. • Fine focus CTAA produces images with improved vessel wall clarity. • Fine focus CTAA is associated with fewer calcification beam-hardening artefacts. • Fine focus CTAA may improve accuracy in assessment of luminal stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	09387994
DOI:	10.1007/s00330-014-3368-6