Application of a Contrast Enhancement Boost Technique in Cranial Four-dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography
GAO Fang
ZHANG Yan
LIU Zhe
ZHANG Gaosheng
XU Min
ZHENG Ying
LI Jian
Abstract：Objective:This study aimed to explore the efficacy and versatility of contrast enhancement boost(CE-Boost)technology for enhancing blood vessels with varying phases and degrees of enhancement on cranial four-dimensional computed tomography angiography(4D-CTA).Methods:Forty-three patients who underwent cerebral CT perfusion(CTP)were enrolled retrospectively.For each patient,three single-phase images were selected from the 4D-CTA based on subjective scoring criteria:one image was scored as arterial early phase non-diagnostic(insufficient enhancement for clinical diagnosis),and two images were scored as arterial phase diagnostic(sufficient enhancement for clinical diagnosis).Subsequently,the corresponding CE-Boost group images were generated using subtraction software.Measurements were obtained on the normal side in six image groups,including:the middle cerebral artery(MCA)M1 segment,basilar artery(BA),and brainstem(BS).Objective image quality was assessed using the CT value,image noise,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),and contrast noise ratio(CNR).The subjective image quality was assessed using a five-point Likert scale.Results:The CT attenuation value,noise value,SNR,and CNR of the MCA and BA were significantly higher in the CE-Boost group than in the original images.The subjective score of the CE-Boost group was higher than that of the original image(3.59±1.33 vs.2.92±0.95).Conclusion:The CE-Boost technique can improve the objective image quality of arterial phase diagnostic images of intracranial 4D-CTA while improving the visualization of branch vessels.However,arterial early phase non-diagnostic images only improve the objective evaluation of the trunk and have limited ability to improve the visualization of intracranial branch vessels.This study suggests that the CE-Boost technique is suitable for arterial phase diagnostic images with an intracranial subjective score greater than or equal to 3.
Keywords：X-ray computerangiographycontrast enhancement
Publication Date：2025-11-30
Online Publishing Date：2025-12-19(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 1142-1149 )