Surgical ligation clip artifacts on CT scans.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Surgical ligation clips are commonly used in medical procedures.
• The presence of metallic surgical clips can cause artifacts in medical imaging.
• Understanding the impact of different clip materials on imaging is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the computed tomography (CT) artifacts produced by surgical ligation clips made from various materials.
• To identify which clip materials result in the least image degradation during CT scans.

Main Methods:

• Surgical ligation clips constructed from tantalum, stainless steel, titanium, and polydioxanone were immersed in a water-filled phantom.
• The phantom containing the clips was scanned using computed tomography (CT).
• Image quality and artifact severity were assessed for each clip material.

Main Results:

• Tantalum clips caused severe image degradation.
• Stainless steel clips resulted in less severe degradation compared to tantalum.
• Titanium clips produced minimal artifacts.
• Polydioxanone clips, made from an absorbable polymer, were visible on CT scans with the least impact on image quality.

Conclusions:

• The material composition of surgical ligation clips significantly influences the degree of CT artifacts.
• Absorbable polydioxanone clips demonstrate superior performance with minimal artifact generation in CT imaging.
• Polydioxanone clips are a promising alternative for patients undergoing CT scans post-surgery.