Tailored CT angiography in follow-up after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR): combined dose reduction techniques

摘要

Background Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) requires lifelong surveillance by computed tomography angiography (CTA). This is attended by a substantial accumulation of radiation exposure. Iterative reconstruction (IR) has been introduced to approach dose reduction. Purpose To evaluate adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) at different levels of tube voltage concerning image quality and dose reduction potential in follow-up post EVAR. Material and Methods One hundred CTAs in 67 patients with EVAR were examined using five protocols: protocol A (n?=?40) as biphasic standard using filtered back projection (FBP) at 120?kV; protocols B (n?=?40), C (n?=?10), and D1 (n?=?5) biphasic using ASIR at 120, 100, and 80?kV, respectively; and protocol D2 (n?=?5) with a monophasic splitbolus ASIR protocol at 80?kV. Image quality was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Applied doses were determined. Results Applied doses in ASIR protocols were significantly lower than FBP standard (up to 75%). Compared to protocol A, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) (e.g. arterial CNR intra-/extra-stent lumen: A?=?35.4?±?13.5, B?=?34.2?±?10.0, C?=?29.6?±?6.8, D1?=?32.1?±?6.3, D2?=?40.8?±?23.1) in protocol B were equal and in protocols C and D equal to partially inferior, however not decisive for diagnostic quality. Subjective image quality ratings in all protocols were good to excellent without impairments of diagnostic confidence (A–D2: 5), with high inter-rater agreement (60–100%). Conclusion ASIR contributes to significant dose reduction without decisive impairments of image quality and diagnostic confidence. We recommend an adapted follow-up introducing ASIR and combined low-kV in the long-term surveillance after EVAR.