Development of the Split-Bolus Pulmonary Arteriovenous Separating Computed Tomography Angiography Protocol Based on Time Enhancement Curve for Lung Cancer Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We devised a split-bolus injection and imaging protocol for pulmonary artery and vein separation computed tomography (CT) angiography based on time enhancement curve characterization. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the contrast enhancement effect and success rate of blood vessel separation between the pulmonary artery and vein of this proposed protocol. METHODS: In this study, 102 patients (45 patients with the standard protocol and 57 patients with the proposed protocol) who underwent pulmonary arteriovenous computed tomography angiography were included. The CT values of various vessels, CT value difference between the pulmonary trunk and left atrium, and coefficient of variation in pulmonary arteries and veins were obtained from images of the standard and proposed protocols. RESULTS: The CT values in the proposed protocol for the pulmonary trunk were significantly higher than those in the standard protocol (487.3 [415.5-546.9] HU vs. 293.0 [259.0-350.0] HU, P < 0.01). The CT value difference between the pulmonary trunk and left atrium in the proposed protocol was significantly higher than that in the conventional protocol (211.3 [158.0-265.7] HU vs. 32 [-30.0-55.0] HU, P < 0.01). The coefficient of variation in the proposed protocol was 0.08 (0.06-0.10) and 0.09 (0.08-0.11) in pulmonary arteries and 0.08 (0.06-0.09) and 0.09 (0.07-0.12) in pulmonary veins, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed protocol achieved separation between the pulmonary artery and vein in many patients, making it useful for the preoperative assessment of individual thoracic anatomy.

[Effects of Iterative Reconstruction on Image Quality of Pediatric Body Computed Tomography Images].

This study evaluated the effects of three types of hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) on image quality of pediatric body computed tomography images. The image quality components evaluated were noise power spectrum (NPS), task-based modulation transfer function (TTF), and system performance function (SPF). As the IR strength was increased while reducing the radiation dose, the NPS increased in a low-frequency range and the TTF decreased in low-contrast regions. In the low-contrast regions, the calculated SPF decreased over the entire frequency range. Alternatively, in the high-contrast regions, the SPF decreased in the low-frequency regions and increased in the high-frequency regions. The radiation dose reduction using the hybrid IR resulted in the deterioration of the image quality in the low-contrast regions and changes in the spatial frequency characteristics in the high-contrast regions.

[The Time Sequence Noise Characteristics of the X- ray Fluoroscopic Image].

The role of the X-ray fluoroscopic image during interventional radiology (IVR) is not only the real-time dynamic image for the catheter operation but also to confirm the vascular anatomy using stored image, so that the importance increases more. For the purpose of measuring the time sequence characteristics of X-ray fluoroscopic image, we sampled the digital value of the same coordinate from each X-ray fluoroscopic image and calculated the frequency properties of the noise for the time sequence order as NPStime by performing Fourier transform on the digital value. The parameters, except k-factor which is the time sequence filter, did not influence NPStime. NPStime, which was examined in this study, showed that it is valuable for the method to analyze the time sequence noise characteristics. And, it also showed that it is possible to evaluate the time sequence image processing parameters of X-ray fluoroscopic image by NPStime. Nowadays, each manufacture of the X-ray angiographic system performs the original image processing to their own X-ray fluoroscopic images. The results of the discussion in this study could show the quantitative analysis on the frequency modulation. And it is possible to calculate NPStime by measuring the digital value of stored X-ray fluoroscopic image. The analysis by this method is also technically convenient for the time sequence noise characteristics of the X-ray fluoroscopic image.

[A design of the measuring chart for magnifying-power compensation in brain angiography].

PURPOSE: When brain angiography was performed, we devised the calculation theory for rectifying magnifying power, and produced the auxiliary tool. METHOD: We produced the frame with a size of 300 x 300 x 15 mm from the thin board made from carbon. The frame is around arranged for every 1 cm in Pb-ball of the diameter of 1 mm. We named this the measuring-chart. The measuring-chart has been arranged so that head may be surrounded. A photograph of a measuring-chart and head was taken simultaneously. The projected mark used for computing the magnifying power of a brain aneurysm. Magnifying power was used in order to measure the size of an aneurysm. RESULTS: In the basic experiment using the stainless-steel ball whose size is known, the standard error was -2.29% +/- 5.61%. A measurement value and true value showed high correlation (R(2) = 0.9986). CONCLUSION: The measuring-chart did not need a proofreading factor peculiar to equipment. This method had high accuracy. This method has high flexibility. It suggested that this method was useful on clinical use.