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. 2018 Apr;28(4):1393-1401.
doi: 10.1007/s00330-017-5059-6. Epub 2017 Oct 10.

Optimisation of window settings for traditional and noise-optimised virtual monoenergetic imaging in dual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography

Tommaso D'Angelo  1   2 , Andreas M Bucher  1 , Lukas Lenga  1 , Christophe T Arendt  1 , Julia L Peterke  1 , Damiano Caruso  3 , Silvio Mazziotti  2 , Alfredo Blandino  2 , Giorgio Ascenti  2 , Ahmed E Othman  4 , Simon S Martin  1 , Doris Leithner  1 , Thomas J Vogl  1 , Julian L Wichmann  5
Affiliations

Optimisation of window settings for traditional and noise-optimised virtual monoenergetic imaging in dual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography

Tommaso D'Angelo et al. Eur Radiol. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To define optimal window settings for displaying virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) of dual-energy CT pulmonary angiography (DE-CTPA).

Methods: Forty-five patients who underwent clinically-indicated third-generation dual-source DE-CTPA were retrospectively evaluated. Standard linearly-blended (M_0.6), 70-keV traditional VMI (M70), and 40-keV noise-optimised VMI (M40+) reconstructions were analysed. For M70 and M40+ datasets, the subjectively best window setting (width and level, B-W/L) was independently determined by two observers and subsequently related with pulmonary artery attenuation to calculate separate optimised values (O-W/L) using linear regression. Subjective evaluation of image quality (IQ) between W/L settings were assessed by two additional readers. Repeated measures of variance were performed to compare W/L settings and IQ indices between M_0.6, M70, and M40+.

Results: B-W/L and O-W/L for M70 were 460/140 and 450/140, and were 1100/380 and 1070/380 for M40+, respectively, differing from standard DE-CTPA W/L settings (450/100). Highest subjective scores were observed for M40+ regarding vascular contrast, embolism demarcation, and overall IQ (all p<0.001).

Conclusions: Application of O-W/L settings is beneficial to optimise subjective IQ of VMI reconstructions of DE-CTPA. A width slightly less than two times the pulmonary trunk attenuation and a level approximately of overall pulmonary vessel attenuation are recommended.

Key points: • Application of standard window settings for VMI results in inferior image perception. • No significant differences between B-W/L and O-W/L for M70/M40+ were observed. • O-W/L for M70 were 450/140 and were 1070/380 for M40+. • Improved subjective IQ characteristics were observed for VMI displayed with O-W/L.

Keywords: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography; Dual-energy CT; Pulmonary embolism; Window level; Window width.

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