Influence of Anatomical, Scanning, and Reconstructing Parameters on Image Quality of CT Angiography: Vascular Phantom Study

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the image quality of CT angiograms obtained with various anatomical, scanning, and reconstruction parameters using a phantom with small vessels, and to determine the technique appropriate to a specific vascular anatomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The vascular phantom consisted of three pairs of parallel tubes with a luminal size of 1, 2, and 3 mm. Using the phantom, CT scans were obtained at three inter-tubal distances (1, 2, and 3 mm), three angles of inclination relative to the z-axis (0 degree, 45 degree, and 90 degree), three collimation widths (1, 3, and 5 mm) and two pitch factors (1 and 2). Using axial images obtained at 1-, 2-, and 3-mm reconstruction intervals, two types of three-dimensional images were rendered, and the quality of 972 such images was subjectively graded in terms of edge definition and artifact by three radiologists. RESULTS: All vessels parallel to the z-axis showed good image quality irrespective of other factors. A pair of vessels separated by 1 mm appeared to be stuck to each other. As collimation width and reconstruction interval increased, image quality decreased significantly and artifact increased. The quality of images obtained at 3 mm collimation and with a 6 mm increment was significantly better where collimation and increment were both 5 mm (p=0.001). Vessels 1 mm in size suffered artifactual degradation, especially in the case of SSD images. Most obliquely oriented vessels showed stair-step artifact, which tended to be severe when the reconstruction interval was large. CONCLUSION: In small vessels perpendicular to or inclined relative to the z-axis, a smaller collimation width and reconstruction interval lessens image degradation. When wider scan coverage is intended, a larger pitch rather than a larger collimation width is recommended. To lessen the artifacts occurring where vessels are obliquely oriented, the reconstruction interval should be reduced.