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Influence of iterative image reconstruction on CT-based calcium score measurements

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Abstract

Iterative reconstruction techniques for coronary CT angiography have been introduced as an alternative for traditional filter back projection (FBP) to reduce image noise, allowing improved image quality and a potential for dose reduction. However, the impact of iterative reconstruction on the coronary artery calcium score is not fully known. In 112 consecutive stable patients with suspected coronary artery disease, the coronary calcium scores were assessed. Comparisons were made between the Agatston, volume and mass scores obtained with traditional FBP, and by using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR). A significant reduction of the Agatston score, volume score and mass score was observed for ASIR when compared to FBP, with median differences of resp. 26, 5 mm3 and 1 mg. Using the ASIR reconstruction, the number of patients with a calcium score of zero increased by 13 %. Iterative CT reconstruction significantly reduces the Agatston, volume and mass scores. Since the calcium score is used as a prognostic tool for coronary artery disease, caution must be taken when using iterative reconstruction.

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Abbreviations

FBP:

Filtered back projection

IR:

Iterative reconstruction

ASIR:

Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction

CAC:

Coronary artery calcium

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

CCTA:

Coronary CT angiography

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physics, Isala Hospital, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    Jochen A. C. van Osch & Jorn A. van Dalen

  2. Department of Cardiology, Isala Hospital, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    Mohamed Mouden, Jorik R. Timmer & Jan Paul Ottervanger

  3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Isala Hospital, Dr. van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    Jochen A. C. van Osch, Stoffer Reiffers, Siert Knollema & Piet L. Jager

  4. Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Marcel J. W. Greuter

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  1. Jochen A. C. van Osch
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  2. Mohamed Mouden
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  3. Jorn A. van Dalen
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  4. Jorik R. Timmer
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Correspondence to Jochen A. C. van Osch.

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van Osch, J.A.C., Mouden, M., van Dalen, J.A. et al. Influence of iterative image reconstruction on CT-based calcium score measurements. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 30, 961–967 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-014-0409-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-014-0409-9

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