A Novel Computed Tomography Image Reconstruction for Improving Visualization of Pulmonary Vasculature: Comparison Between Preprocessing and Postprocessing Images Using a Contrast Enhancement Boost Technique

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to evaluate chest computed tomography (CT) angiography image quality using the contrast enhancement (CE)-boost technique compared with conventional images. Methods Forty patients who underwent contrast-enhanced chest CT were included. Combined CT angiography images of the iodinated image obtained from the subtraction of nonenhanced CT images and CT angiography images were used to generate CE-boost images. Computed tomography attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for the right and left pulmonary arteries as the central and subsegmental arteries as peripheral vessels were assessed. Subjective image quality was rated on a 5-point scale by 2 radiologists. Image quality was assessed using a paired t test. Results Computed tomography attenuation in the main pulmonary artery was significantly higher for the CE-boost images (311.05 +/- 91.94) than for the conventional images (221.25 +/- 61.21, P < 0.001). Similarly, the CE-boost images resulted in significantly higher CT attenuation in the subsegmental arteries (right, 305.34 +/- 90.13; left, 313.05 +/- 97.21) than in the conventional images (right, 218.45 +/- 63.16; left, 223.89 +/- 74.27). The CE-boost technique demonstrated marked improvement in the visualization of the peripheral pulmonary artery without the administration of a higher iodine delivery rate. The mean SNR and CNR were also significantly higher in the central and peripheral vessels in the CE-boost images than in the conventional images (P < 0.001). In the subjective analysis, the image contrast and vascular contrast edge were significantly higher for the CE-boost images than for conventional images (P < 0.001). Conclusions The CE-boost technique increases not only the visualization of peripheral arteries by improving vascular attenuation but also the SNR and CNR.