[Improvement of longitudinal resolution by deblurring technique in helical CT of the head and neck]

We assessed the improvement of longitudinal resolution in helical CT by deblurring techniques in a phantom and 8 head and neck patients. After helical scanning with 3- or 5-mm-collimation and 3- or 5 mm/sec table feed, overlapped axial images were reconstructed at every 0.3 or 0.5 mm pitch. Deblurring techniques were applied to these data. The slice profile and longitudinal resolution were improved by deblurring. Longitudinal resolution increased with the strength of deblurring. Image sharpness was improved in reconstructed images of MPR, MIP and 3D, and better visualization of the peripheral vessels was obtained in CTAs.