Jongmee Lee MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Won Jae Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyo Keun Lim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eun Joo Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dongil Choi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yong Hwan Jeon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To determine if the isotropic coronal CT image can replace the conventional axial CT image by comparing the image quality and lesion detectability of both CT images.

During a 3-month period, we consecutively collected 50 patients (29 men and 21 women, mean age; 57 years) who underwent multi-detector row CT for suspected abdominal diseases. All CT scans were performed using 16-slice CT (GE Medical Systems) or 40-slice CT (Philips Medical Systems) with a slice collimation of 1.25 mm for 16-slice CT and 1.0 mm for 40-slices CT. The axial CT images were reconstructed continuously with a slice collimation of 5 mm at CT. The isotropic coronal CT images of 3-mm slab thickness were reformatted using the axial image data of the same slice collimation and reconstruction interval on a 3-D workstation (GE Medical Systems). Both CT images were obtained from the portal venous phase images and were transferred to the PACS (GE Medical Systems). Image analysis was made by consensus of three abdominal radiologists with a 5-scale grading system for the following parameters: the image quality (sharpness, noise, artifact and overall image quality) and lesion detectability (number, lesion extent and perilesional change). The abdominal organs were divided into the solid part (liver, spleen, pancreas and kidney), cystic part (gallbladder, bile duct and urinary bladder) and gastrointestinal (GI) part, and the number of all lesions in each part was 44, 13 and 20, respectively.

For image quality, sharpness and overall image quality were better on the coronal CT images than on the axial CT images in all three parts (p<.05). For lesion detectability, all lesions seen on the axial CT images were detected on the coronal CT images. Lesion extent and perilesional change were more clearly demarcated on the CT coronal images than on the axial CT images in the solid and cystic parts (p<.05) as well as the GI part . Artifact was more frequently found on the coronal CT images than on the axial CT images (p<.05).

According to our results, we concluded that the isotropic coronal CT images could replace the conventional axial CT images.

Lee, J, Lee, W, Lim, H, Lee, E, Choi, D, Jeon, Y, Can the Isotropic Coronal CT Image Replace the Conventional Axial CT Image?.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4417129.html