Anatomical Evaluation Of Optimal Monochromatic Images Of Uterine Artery With Spectral CT Angiography

Background Gemstone spectral imaging(GSI) can obtain optimal monochromatic energy image according to the attenuation of different substance. The monochromatic energy image have a higher capacity to demonstrate the details of vessels and its’ tiny braches. Uterine arteries(UA) with complicated shapes and slender branches which has much to do with gynecological diseases. It is significant to make sure characteristics of different patients before treatments. In our study we use Gemstone spectral imaging to get optimal monochromatic energy dates or fused monochromatic energy dates to promote the quality of images which can provide more accurate and comprehensive information to guide clinical works.PART 1Image Fusion of Monochromatic Technique on CTA Imaging Quality of the Uterine Artery with Spectral CTPurpose To investigate the value of the monochromatic parameters with fused image of CT angiography(CTA)on uterine artery using single source dual-energy CT with Gemstone Spectral Image(GSI) Technique.Methods The medical imaging data of 40 females underwent pelvic or urinary system scanning with GSI technique were prospectively analyzed. The140 k Vp polychromatic energy group, the 70 ke V monochromatic energy group, the optimal monochromatic energy group and the fused image group were used to separately reconstruct uterine arteries. Comparative parameters include contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR), signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),the background noise of image and subjective scores of the uterine arteries. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to statistical analysis.Results background noise of image were 25.35±4.74,16.64±3.49,21.30±3.67 and 18.25±3.07 respectively.Subjective scores were 4.03±0.75,3.71±0.77,3.06±0.83 and 4.24±0.67.CNR,SNR,the background noise of image and subjective scores had significant difference among the four groups(P < 0.01). The fused image group was higher than the other 3 groups in CNR,SNR and subjective scores,the background noise of image was lower than 70 ke V monochromatic energy group while higher than the other 2 groups.Conclusion The optimal monochromatic energy value is(62.38±1.61) ke V. The fused image group can remarkably improve CTA quality of the uterine arteries which would promote the study of the image anatomy of uterine arteries.PART 2Anatomical Evaluation of Optimal Monochromatic Images of Uterine Artery with spectral CT AngiographyPurpose To analyze the anatomical characters of uterine artery by using spectral CT.Methods medical imaging data of 40 females underwent pelvic or urinary system scanning with GSI technique were retrospectively analyzed.Comparing the CNR,SNR,SD of the 11 sets of spectral image data were reconstructed to monochromatic spectral image from 40 ke V to 140 ke V in10 ke V and the optimal monochromatic energy group were reconstructed by GSI viewer. The anatomical characters were observed and analyzed by VR,MPR and MIP. Subjective scores of the sections of uterine arteries were contrast between the optimal monochromatic energy group and the 140 k Vp polychromatic energy group.Results Totally82 uterine arteries were involved in this study, the groups of60 ke V to70 ke V make better SNR and CNR than other groups, the data had no significant difference among theintervals.SD in the level of 70 ke V was minimum. The optimal monochromatic energy group were similar to the60 ke V group which agree with the measured results. The uterine arteries were mostly originated less than 15° angle of the trunk of inferior gluteal and main pudenda artery, and divided into upper and lower branches next to the cervical lateral. The upper one was circuitous to the palace area and the tiny branches divided. The lower one was distributed in the cervix and vagina. Subjective scores show that the optimal monochromatic energy group were advanced than the 140 k Vp polychromatic energy group.Conclusion The Monochromatic Images with spectral CTA geography could clearly visualize the anatomical features of uterine artery and provide anatomic data for clinical treatment.