Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37831106›Full record

ArticleClinical neuroradiology2024

Improvement of Neurovascular Imaging Using Ultra-High-Resolution Computed Tomography Angiography.

Felix A Ucar, Marius Frenzel, Andrea Kronfeld, Sebastian Altmann, Antoine P Sanner, Mario Alberto Abello Mercado, Timo Uphaus, Marc A Brockmann, Ahmed E Othman

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical neuroradiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Felix A UcarDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Marius FrenzelDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Andrea KronfeldDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Sebastian AltmannDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Antoine P SannerDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Mario Alberto Abello MercadoDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Timo UphausDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Marc A BrockmannDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Ahmed E OthmanDepartment of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany. ahmed.e.othman@googlemail.com.
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · DEFraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate diagnostic image quality of ultra-high-resolution computed tomography angiography (UHR-CTA) in neurovascular imaging as compared to normal resolution CT-angiography (NR-CTA). MATERIAL AND

methodsIn this retrospective single-center study brain and neck CT-angiography was performed using an ultra-high-resolution computed tomography scanner (n = 82) or a normal resolution CT scanner (NR-CTA; n = 73). Ultra-high-resolution images were reconstructed with a 1024 × 1024 matrix and a slice thickness of 0.25 mm, whereas NR-CT images were reconstructed with a 512 × 512 matrix and a slice thickness of 0.5 mm. Three blinded neuroradiologists assessed overall image quality, artifacts, image noise, overall contrast and diagnostic confidence using a 4-point Likert scale. Furthermore, the visualization and delineation of supra-aortic arteries with an emphasis on the visualization of small intracerebral vessels was assessed using a cerebral vascular score, also utilizing a 4-point Likert scale. Quantitative analyses included signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), noise and the steepness of gray value transition. Radiation exposure was determined by comparison of computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP) and mean effective dose. Interrater agreement was evaluated via determining Fleiss-Kappa.

resultsUltra-high-resolution CT-angiography (UHR-CTA) yielded excellent image quality with superior quantitative (SNR: p < 0.001, CNR: p < 0.001, steepness of gray value transition: p < 0.001) and qualitative results (overall image quality: 4 (Inter quartile range (IQR) = 4-4); p < 0.001, diagnostic confidence: 4 (IQR = 4-4); p < 0.001) compared to NR-CT (overall image quality: 3 (IQR = 3-3), diagnostic confidence: 3 (IQR = 3-4)). Furthermore, UHR-CT enabled significantly superior delineation and visualization of all vascular segments, from proximal extracranial vessels to the smallest peripheral cerebral branches (e.g. , UHR-CTA PICA: 4 (3-4) vs. NR-CTA PICA: 3 (2-3); UHR-CTA P4: 4 (IQR = 3-4) vs. NR-CTA P4: 2 (IQR = 2-3); UHR-CTA M4: 4 (IQR = 4-4) vs. NR-CTA M4: 3 (IQR = 2-3); UHR-CTA A4: 4 (IQR = 3-4) vs. NR-CTA A4: 2 (IQR = 2-3); all p < 0.001). Noteworthy, a reduced mean effective dose was observed when applying UHR-CT (NR-CTA: 1.8 ± 0.3 mSv; UHR-CTA: 1.5 ± 0.5 mSv; p < 0.001).

conclusionUltra-high-resolution CT-angiography improves image quality in neurovascular imaging allowing the depiction and evaluation of small peripheral cerebral arteries. It may thus improve the detection of pathologies in small cerebrovascular lesions and the resulting diagnosis.

Indexed as

Computed Tomography AngiographyTomography, X-Ray ComputedAngiographyHumansRadiation DosageRadiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-AssistedRetrospective StudiesSignal-To-Noise RatioCerebral arteriesComputed tomographyComputed tomography angiographyImage enhancementResolution

Identifiers

PMID37831106
PMCPMC10881789
OpenAlexW4387598567

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.