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Informatica


Image Quality in Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography and Radiation Dose Reduction
Volume 32, Issue 4 (2021), pp. 741–757
Pub. online: 15 November 2021      Type: Research Article      Open accessOpen Access
Received
1 July 2020
Accepted
1 October 2021
Published
15 November 2021

Abstract

Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is a non-invasive, powerful image processing technique for assessing coronary artery disease. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the diagnostic role of CTCA using optimal scanning parameters and to investigate the effect of low kilovoltage CTCA on the qualitative and quantitative image parameters and radiation dose in overweight and obese patients. Consolidation of knowledge in medicine and image processing was used to achieve the aim, and performance was evaluated in a clinical setting. Elevated body mass index is one of the factors causing increased radiation dose to patients. This study examined the feasibility of 80-kV and 100-kV CTCA in overweight and obese adult patients, comparing radiation doses and image quality versus standardized 100-kV protocols in the group of overweight patients and 120-kV CTCA in the group of obese patients. Qualitative and quantitative image parameters were determined in proximal and distal segments of the coronary arteries. Quantitative assessment was determined by the contrast-to-noise ratio and signal-to-noise ratio. The results of the study showed that in overweight and obese patients, the low dose protocol affords radiation dose reduction of 35% and 41%, respectively. Image quality was found to be diagnostically acceptable in all cases.

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Biographies

Golubickas Domas
domas.golubickas@lsmuni.lt

D. Golubickas is a physician radiologist, MD, PhD, member of Kaunas Region Society of Radiologists, Lithuanian Radiologists’ Association. Member of European Association of Radiologists (ESR). Field of interest – evaluating the possibilities of different radiological research methods in detection of initial and early pathological changes.

Lukosevicius Saulius
saulius.lukosevicius@kaunoklinikos.lt

S. Lukosevicius is a physician radiologist, MD, PhD, member of Kaunas Region Society of Radiologists, Lithuanian Radiologists’ Association. Member of European Association of Radiologists (ESR). Scientific work is performed in Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, evaluating the possibilities of different radiological research methods in detection of vascular, neurological, oncological diseases, identifying both initial and early pathological changes of various kinds.

Tamakauskas Vytenis
v.tamakauskas@gmail.com

V. Tamakauskas is a head of Interventional Angiology department at Siauliai Hospital, Heart and Vascular Centre. Board member of Lithuania National Interventional Cardiology Association. Member of Lithuania Society of Cardiology, member of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI). Scientific work is focused on analysis of effectiveness, adverse effects and genetical factors of antiplatelet drugs in patients after acute coronary syndrome, especially on obese and diabetic patients.

Dobrovolskiene Laima
laimadobra@gmail.com

L. Dobrovolskiene is a physician radiologist, MD, PhD. Member of Kaunas Region Society of Radiologists (KRSR) and Lithuanian Radiologists Association. Member of the European Association of Radiologists (ESR), member of European Society of Thoracic Imaging (ESTI). Scientific work is performed in the field of thoracic and cardiovascular imaging evaluating the possibilities of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in early detection of different cardiovascular and thoracal pathological changes, analysis the influence of contrast media using on the quality of radiological images.

Baseviciene Ingrida
ibasev@gmail.com

I. Baseviciene, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS). Member of Kaunas Region Society of Radiologists (KRSR), Lithuanian Radiologists Association and European Association of Radiologists (ESR). Field of interest – evaluation of different radiological research methods used on gynaecology patients, especially for obese patients, identifying both initial and early pathological changes of various kinds.

Grib Liviu
liviu.grib@usmf.md

L. Grib is a head of the University Clinic of Cardiology within Public Health Hospital “Sf. Treime” and professor in State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemitanu”. Member of the Society of Cardiologists of the Republic of Moldova and Romania. Member of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The scientific activity is focused on obese patients and current problems of radiological etiopathogenesis evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease with various comorbidities.

Ragaisyte Nijole
Nijole.Ragaisyte@lsmu.lt

N. Ragaisyte, MD, PhD, cardiologist. Member of Kaunas Region Society of Cardiologists, Lithuanian Heart Association, member of European Association of Cardiologists. Field of interest – overweight patients with coronary artery diseases and possibilities for early pathological change diagnostics by using CT scanning.

Leonavicius Rytis
rytis.leo@gmail.com

R. Leonavicius is an assoc. prof. and doctor psychiatrist at Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics. Author and co-author of more than 16 scientific articles, one monograph in psychiatry and 3 educational books in psychiatry and general practice. Investigator and principal investigator of 10 clinical trials. Field of interest – obese patient clinical status evaluation.

Medvedev Viktor
viktor.medvedev@mif.vu.lt

V. Medvedev is a senior researcher at the Institute of Data Science and Digital Technologies, Vilnius University. He received the doctoral degree in computer science (PhD) from Institute of Mathematics and Informatics jointly with Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, in 2008. His research interests include artificial intelligence, neural networks, visualization of multidimensional data, dimensionality reduction, image processing, data mining and parallel computing.

Veikutis Vincentas
vincentas.veikutis@lsmuni.lt

V. Veikutis, MD, PhD, cardiologist. Member of the European Association of Cardiology (ESC), Fields of interest – experimental and clinical investigations in field of destructive energies (RF, US, Laser), evaluation of the possibilities of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in early detection of different cardiovascular pathologies.


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Open access article under the CC BY license.

Keywords
image quality data analysis computed tomography coronary angiography radiation dose optimal scanning parameters

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