Characterization of atherosclerotic plaque: a contrast‐detail study using multidetector and cone‐beam computed tomography

Abstract

A Hindmarsh‐Rose model perceptibility phantom containing inserts with various in vitro atherosclerotic plaque compositions was constructed and imaged on a clinical 64 slice multidetector (MDCT) system using 80 and 120 kVp settings and two other cone‐beam (CBCT) systems at 80 kVp. Perceptibility of the simulated lipid‐fibrotic plaque solutions in the images was evaluated by six observers. The effective doses of the protocols employed were estimated using phantom CTDI‐vol measurements placed at identical settings. The CBCT system allowed reduction in effective dose in comparison with the conventional MDCT system for imaging of the carotid plaque phantoms without degrading image quality. The CBCT dose was less than MDCT, with a mean dose of 1.14±0.01 mSv and 1.11±0.02 mSv for MDCT using two measuring techniques vs. 0.35±0.01 mSv for CBCT. The image quality analysis showed no significant differences in the contrast‐detail (C‐D) curves of the best performing CBCT vs. clinical MDCT false(p>0.05false) using a Mann‐Whitney U test. Results indicate that low‐tube‐potential CBCT may produce comparable C‐D resolution for phantom‐based representations of soft plaque types with respect to MDCT systems. This study suggests that the utility of low kVp CT techniques for evaluating carotid vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque merits further study.PACS numbers: 87.53.Bn, 87.57.N‐, 87.57.Q‐, 87.57.cj

Low-Contrast Detail Phantom: Proof of Concept

“…The results presented in this research prove that the conventional form of the CDRAD can be extended to include various ranges of attenuating materials filling the holes instead of only using air. It has also been recently identified that conversion of a typical CDP into a low-contrast form has been considered highly valuable radiologically [11]. The findings from this research similarly suggest that using a modified form of the CDP for projection imaging systems will be a valuable addition to radiology departments.…”

Detection of calcifications within the course of internal carotid artery as incidental findings in CBCT scans. Is it important for patients?

“…Studies show that the quality of carotid atherosclerosis visualization by conventional CT does not differ from that of CBCT [11,12]. A study that evaluated the incidence of extracranial calcifications in course of ICA (ExCICA) and intracranial calcification in ICA (InCICA) on cone beam computed tomography scans shows that the possibility of detectable ExCICAs and InCICAs increases with increasing age; this is more prominent for InCICAs.…”