Impact of 1024-Matrix Size on Perforating Artery Visualisation in Cerebral Computed Tomography Angiography Using a...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is crucial for preoperative intracranial vessel assessment.
• Visualizing small perforating arteries in cerebral CTA presents challenges with conventional systems.
• This study evaluates the impact of increased matrix size on perforating artery visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if increasing the reconstruction matrix size from 512 to 1024 pixels improves perforating artery visualization in cerebral CTA.
• To assess the effect of matrix size on physical image properties and vessel visibility.

Main Methods:

• Phantom and clinical studies were conducted.
• Task Transfer Function (TTF) and Noise Power Spectrum (NPS) analyses assessed physical properties.
• 41 patients underwent cerebral CTA with 512- and 1024-matrix reconstructions.
• Quantitative CT values and qualitative observer assessments were performed.

Main Results:

• Physical image quality metrics showed minimal differences between 512 and 1024 matrix sizes.
• 1024 pixels resulted in higher peak CT values for the anterior choroidal artery (p < 0.001).
• Qualitative assessment showed significant improvement in vessel visualization with 1024 pixels, especially for posterior thalamoperforating arteries (17.07% to 39.03%).

Conclusions:

• Increasing matrix size to 1024 pixels enhances the visual detection of small perforating arteries.
• Enhanced sampling density improves visualization without significantly altering physical image quality metrics.
• This technique offers a practical method to improve preoperative vessel evaluation using existing CT technology.