Subjective image analysis scoring.

Background and purposeThis study aimed to investigate the potential of contrast enhancement (CE)-boost technique in the head and neck computed tomography (CT) angiography in terms of the objective and subjective image quality.Materials and methodsConsecutive patients who underwent head and neck CT angiography between May 2022 and July 2022 were included. The CE-boost images were generated by combining the subtracted iodinated image and contrast-enhanced image. The objective image analysis was compared for each image with and without CE-boost technique using the CT attenuation, image noise, signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR), and image sharpness (full width at half width maximum, FWHM). The subjective image analysis was evaluated by two independent experienced radiologists in the following aspects: the overall image quality, motion artifact, vascular delineation, and vessel sharpness.ResultsA total of 65 patients (mean age, 59.48 ± 13.71 years; range, 24–87 years; 36 women) were included. The CT attenuation of the vertebrobasilar arteries was significantly (p p p p p 0.001). Higher subjective image quality scores were also demonstrated by the CE-boost than images without CE-boost technique.ConclusionsIn both objective and subjective image analysis, the CE-boost technique provided higher image quality without increasing the flow rate and concentration of contrast media in the head and neck CT angiography. Furthermore, the vessel completeness and delineation were superior in CE-boost images than in conventional images.背景与目的：本研究旨在探讨对比增强（contrast enhancement, CE）boost技术在头颈部计算机断层扫描（computed tomography, CT）血管造影中的应用潜力，从客观与主观图像质量维度开展评估。 材料与方法：纳入2022年5月至2022年7月期间接受头颈部CT血管造影的连续患者。通过融合减影碘造影图像与对比增强图像，生成CE-boost图像。针对使用与未使用CE-boost技术的两组图像，分别采用CT值、图像噪声、信噪比（signal-to-noise-ratio, SNR）、对比度噪声比（contrast-to-noise-ratio, CNR）及图像清晰度（full width at half maximum, FWHM）开展客观图像质量分析。由两名独立的高年资放射科医师，从整体图像质量、运动伪影、血管显示情况及血管清晰度四个维度对图像进行主观质量评估。 结果：本研究共纳入65例患者，平均年龄为59.48±13.71岁，年龄范围24~87岁，其中女性36例。椎基底动脉的CT值差异具有显著统计学意义（P<0.001），CE-boost图像的主观图像质量评分亦显著高于未使用该技术的图像。 结论：无论是客观还是主观图像质量分析，头颈部CT血管造影中应用CE-boost技术，均可在不提高对比剂流速与浓度的前提下提升图像质量。此外，CE-boost图像的血管完整性与显示效果均优于常规图像。