![]() ![]() ![]() Our phantom study involves different plaque combinations (soft, intermediate, and calcified), different stenosis (50% and 75%), different lumen densities (low and high lumen), and different reconstruction methods (FBP, AIDR3D, and FIRST).įor the coronary vessel models, we used three types of vessel tubes with stenosis and an acrylic tube without stenosis (Fuyo, Japan). Our study aims to investigate the stabilities of plaque attenuation and coronary lumen using coronary vessel phantoms and the visualization of coronary plaques in clinical patients through coronary CTA. FIRST can potentially improve the spatial resolution and CT number because it employs a more accurate model of X-ray physics (considering partial volume effects, beam hardening, etc.) than the former iterative method does, as well as an improved filtered back-projection (FBP) method. Unlike AIDR3D ( 19, 20), FIRST is an iterative reconstruction algorithm that models system optics, such as the detector element aperture, and improves image quality by iteratively minimizing a penalty-based cost function. Recently, an algorithm called “forward projected model-based iterative reconstruction solution” (FIRST) was developed as an iterative method for image reconstructions ( 17, 18). Non-contrast CTA and dual-phase coronary CTA from non-contrast (first phase) and contrast enhancement (second phase) were previously applied to achieve accurate CT number of the coronary plaque ( 14– 16). Regarding coronary plaque, CT number of coronary plaque varies with the increasing contrast enhancement of coronary lumen owing to partial volume effects, beam hardening, and plaque vascularity ( 13). Therefore, diagnostic accuracy relies on knowledge of the plaque burden and high-risk plaque features. Previous studies have associated high-risk plaque characteristics (e.g., positive remodeling, low CT number plaque, napkin-ring, sign and spotty calcium), as characterized by coronary CTA, with culprit lesions of the acute coronary syndrome ( 6– 12). In addition, coronary CTA raises concerns regarding evaluations of coronary stenosis and coronary plaque. Potential applications of coronary CTA require high visualization of coronary arteries while maintaining radiation dose ( 5). Coronary CT angiography (CTA) with electrocardiogram (ECG) gating is an accurate non-invasive method to evaluate coronary artery disease ( 1– 4). ![]()
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