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Author Spotlight: Innovative Technique for Coronary Angiography in Marginal Donors
Published on: July 12, 2024
Contrast-to-Noise Ratio Optimization in Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography: Validation in a Swine Model
Logan Hubbard1, Shant Malkasian1, Yixiao Zhao1
1Department of Radiological Sciences, Medical Sciences I, B-140, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697.
Rationale And Objectives:
The accuracy of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography depends upon the degree of coronary enhancement as compared to the background noise. Unfortunately, coronary contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) optimization is difficult on a patient-specific basis. Hence, the objective of this study was to validate a new combined diluted test bolus and CT angiography protocol for improved coronary enhancement and CNR.
Materials And Methods:
The combined diluted test bolus and CT angiography protocol was validated in six swine (28.9 ± 2.7 kg). Specifically, the aortic and coronary enhancement and CNR of a standard CT angiography protocol, and a new combined diluted test bolus and CT angiography protocol were compared to a reference retrospective CT angiography protocol. Comparisons for all data were made using box plots, t tests, regression, Bland-Altman, root-mean-square error and deviation, as well as Lin's concordance correlation.
Results:
The combined diluted test bolus and CT angiography protocol was found to improve aortic and coronary enhancement by 26% and 13%, respectively, as compared to the standard CT angiography protocol. More importantly, the combined protocol was found to improve aortic and coronary CNR by 29% and 20%, respectively, as compared to the standard protocol.
Conclusion:
A new combined diluted test bolus and CT angiography protocol was shown to improve coronary enhancement and CNR as compared to an existing standard CT angiography protocol.
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