Metal Artifact Reduction for Orthopedic Prosthesis in Lower Extremity CT Venography: Evaluation of Image Quality and Vessel Conspicuity

Journal Article · Fri Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2019 · Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S00270-019-02326-2· OSTI ID:22970444

Woo, Hyunsik; Chai, Jee Won; Choi, Young Ho

Purpose: This study evaluates the image quality of lower extremity CT venography reconstructed with orthopedic metal artifact reduction (O-MAR) in patients with unilateral or bilateral metallic prostheses in the hip or knee. Methods: This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board, and informed consent was waived. Twenty-nine patients of lower extremity CT with 51 metallic hip or knee prostheses were reconstructed to both standard CT images and O-MAR images. The subjective image quality and vessel conspicuity for both images were evaluated by two readers using five-point scales (0–4). Vessel conspicuity scores of 3 or 4 were considered diagnostically acceptable. Image noise was measured in the air and subcutaneous fat. Results: O-MAR images showed significantly higher scores of subjective image quality (p < .001) and vessel conspicuity (p = .002) than standard CT images. Diagnostic acceptance of vessel conspicuity was not significantly different between O-MAR images and standard CT images (p = 1.000). O-MAR images showed significantly less image noise than conventional CT images (p < .001 for both air and subcutaneous fat). Conclusion: O-MAR may be an effective solution for the metal artifacts in lower extremity CT venography; however, the distance between prostheses and vessels affects the diagnostic acceptance in patients with metallic hip or knee prostheses. Level of Evidence: Level 4, Case Series.

• OSTI ID: 22970444
• Journal Information: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Journal Name: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 42; ISSN 0174-1551; ISSN CAIRDG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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