Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39966178›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2025

Improving image quality and diagnostic usability in photon-counting coronary CT angiography using a novel reconstruction algorithm.

Nina P Haag, Julius H Niehoff, Iram Shahzadi, Christoph Panknin, Marcus Wiemer, Sven Kaese, Roman Johannes Gertz, Lenhard Pennig, Ole Inuk Platte, Alexey Surov and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

12 authors.

Nina P HaagDepartment of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Johannes Wesling University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hans-Nolte-Strasse 1, 32429, Minden, Germany. nina.p.haag@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8598-1295
Julius H NiehoffDepartment of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Johannes Wesling University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hans-Nolte-Strasse 1, 32429, Minden, Germany.
Iram ShahzadiSiemens Healthcare GmbH, Henkestraße 127, 91052, Erlangen, Germany.
Christoph PankninSiemens Healthcare GmbH, Henkestraße 127, 91052, Erlangen, Germany.
Marcus WiemerDepartment of Cardiology, Johannes Wesling University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hans-Nolte-Strasse 1, 32429, Minden, Germany.
Sven KaeseDepartment of Cardiology, Johannes Wesling University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hans-Nolte-Strasse 1, 32429, Minden, Germany.
Roman Johannes GertzInstitute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62/Gebäude 18a, 50937, Köln, Germany.
Lenhard PennigInstitute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62/Gebäude 18a, 50937, Köln, Germany.
Ole Inuk PlatteDepartment of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Johannes Wesling University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hans-Nolte-Strasse 1, 32429, Minden, Germany.
Alexey SurovDepartment of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Johannes Wesling University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hans-Nolte-Strasse 1, 32429, Minden, Germany.
Jan BorggrefeDepartment of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Johannes Wesling University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hans-Nolte-Strasse 1, 32429, Minden, Germany.
Jan Robert KroegerDepartment of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Johannes Wesling University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hans-Nolte-Strasse 1, 32429, Minden, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeQualitative comparison of image quality and diagnostic usability of the recently introduced ZeeFree (ZF) reconstruction algorithm for photon-counting coronary CT angiography (cCTA) with Standard (SD) and TrueStack (TS) reconstruction algorithms. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This retrospective single-center study included 59 patients (mean age 62.5 ± 13.7, 37 males) who were referred for cCTA on a clinical photon-counting CT scanner between July and December 2023. Curved planar reformations were reconstructed for coronary arteries using ZF, SD, and TS algorithms. Three blinded radiologists individually evaluated image quality on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = excellent; median and interquartile range). Differences were evaluated using Friedman's test with pair-wise post-hoc testing. Readers were advised to assess the image quality to be diagnostic using a dichotomous yes/no question, with results being presented as percentages and significance evaluated by the Pearson Chi-Square test. Interrater reliability for image quality used Gwet's AC2 coefficient with ordinal weights, and Gwet's AC1 coefficient for diagnostic usability.

resultsZF showed superior quality (4 (2)) compared to SD (4 (2), p = 0.03) and TS (4 (1), p < 0.001) while a substantial inter-rater agreement was observed for all algorithms (0.70-0.74). Furthermore, ZF obtained the highest diagnostic usability compared to SD (82.5% vs. 77.0%, p < 0.001) and TS (75.5%, p < 0.001) while yielding an almost perfect inter-rater agreement (0.84).

conclusionCompared to SD and TS, the novel ZF image reconstruction algorithm for photon-counting cCTA provides improved image quality and diagnostic usability, suggesting its primary use for clinical assessment. KEY POINTS: Question How well does the novel ZeeFree algorithm address motion artifacts in photon-counting coronary CT angiography? Findings ZeeFree significantly outperformed Standard and TrueStack reconstruction algorithms for image quality and diagnostic usability. Clinical relevance Enhanced image quality with ZeeFree could improve the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Indexed as

AlgorithmsComputed Tomography AngiographyCoronary AngiographyCoronary Artery DiseaseRadiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-AssistedAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhotonsReproducibility of ResultsRetrospective StudiesCardiac imaging techniquesComputer-assistedImage processingMultidetector computed tomography

Identifiers

PMID39966178
PMCPMC12226693

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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.