ISSN 1004-4140
    CN 11-3017/P

    能谱CT深度学习重建联合MAR技术对头颈部CTA义齿金属伪影抑制效果的临床研究

    Clinical Evaluation of Deep Learning Reconstruction Combined with Metal Artifact Reduction for the Mitigation of Dental Prosthesis Artifacts in Head and Neck Spectral CT Angiography

    • 摘要: 目的:评估能谱CT深度学习重建算法(DLR)联合去金属伪影(MAR)技术,在义齿植入下头颈部CTA血管的可视化及金属伪影去除的应用价值,以期为该类患者头颈部病变的精准影像诊断提供更优方案。方法:回顾性纳入27例单侧佩戴固定义齿并接受头颈部能谱(CTA)检查的患者。所有双能CTA原始数据均选择120 kVp-Like的图像进行四种方案重建:DLR重建组、DLR+MAR 联合重建组、50%自适应统计迭代重建(ASiR-V)组、50% ASiR-V+MAR联合组。于金属伪影累及层面的颈内动脉(ICA)及其周围软组织放置感兴趣区(ROI),避开钙化及斑块,测量CT值及噪声值(SD)。比较四组图像的伪影指数(AI)、信噪比(SNR)和对比噪声比(CNR),并进行主观图像质量评分。所有测量均在同一层面,重复测量3次取平均值。采用方差分析和加权Kappa检验进行统计学比较。结果:DLR+MAR组SNR 均值(12.64±7.53)、CNR均值(32.46±13.47)均高于其余3组,AI均值(35.71±24.13)为组间最低。组间比较显示,四组的CNR差异具有统计学意义,SNR与AI值无统计学意义(P=0.766、P=0.664)。主观评分方面,DLR+MAR组主观评分最高,显著高于其余3组,2名观察者的主观评分达到高度一致性(Kappa=0.825)。结论:在能谱CT扫描中,应用DLR联合MAR技术,可以有效减少固定义齿产生的金属伪影,显著提升头颈CTA图像质量,具有非常重要的临床应用价值。

       

      Abstract: Objective: (1) To evaluate the clinical utility of deep learning reconstruction (DLR) combined with metal artifact reduction (MAR) in improving vascular visualization and in mitigating metal artifacts associated with fixed dental prostheses in head and neck spectral computed tomography angiography (CTA). (2) To establish an optimized imaging protocol for the accurate diagnosis of head and neck pathologies in this patient cohort. Methods: A total of 27 patients with unilateral fixed dental prostheses who underwent head and neck spectral CTA were retrospectively included. Raw data from all dual-energy CTA examinations were reconstructed into four image datasets using four protocols based on the 120 kVp-like series: DLR without MAR, DLR with MAR (DLR+MAR), 50% Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction-V (ASiR-V) without MAR, and 50% ASiR-V with MAR (ASiR-V+MAR). Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on the internal carotid artery (ICA) and adjacent soft tissues on the slices most severely affected by metal artifacts, carefully avoiding calcifications and atherosclerotic plaques, to measure the CT number and image noise (standard deviation; SD). The artifact index (AI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated for each dataset and compared among the four groups. Subjective image quality was independently assessed by two board-certified radiologists who were blinded to the reconstruction protocols. All measurements were performed on identical anatomical slices across all four protocols, and the mean of three repeated measurements was adopted for the final analysis. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare quantitative parameters among the four groups, and interobserver agreement for subjective scores was evaluated using the weighted Cohen’s kappa statistic. Results: Among the four groups, the DLR+MAR group yielded the highest mean SNR (12.64±7.53) and CNR (32.46±13.47), along with the lowest mean AI (35.71±24.13). One-way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference in CNR across the four groups, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in SNR or AI (P = 0.766 and P = 0.664, respectively). For the subjective image quality assessment, the DLR+MAR group achieved the highest scores, which were significantly superior to those of the other three groups. The two observers showed excellent interobserver agreement (weighted kappa = 0.825). Conclusion: In spectral CT examinations, the combination of DLR and MAR can effectively mitigate metal artifacts associated with fixed dental prostheses and significantly improve the image quality of head and neck CTA, thereby demonstrating substantial clinical utility in routine practice.

       

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