View in EDS PDF Full Text

Assessment of thoracic disk herniation by using virtual noncalcium dual-energy CT in comparison with standard grayscale CT.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Assessment of thoracic disk herniation by using virtual noncalcium dual-energy CT in comparison with standard grayscale CT.
Authors: Koch, Vitali1 (AUTHOR), Yel, Ibrahim1 (AUTHOR), Grünewald, Leon D.2 (AUTHOR), Beckers, Sebastian2 (AUTHOR), Burck, Iris2 (AUTHOR), Lenga, Lukas1 (AUTHOR), Martin, Simon S.1 (AUTHOR), Mader, Christoph2 (AUTHOR), Wichmann, Julian L.1 (AUTHOR), Albrecht, Moritz H.1 (AUTHOR), Eichler, Katrin2 (AUTHOR), Gruber-Rouh, Tatjana2 (AUTHOR), D'Angelo, Tommaso3 (AUTHOR), Mazziotti, Silvio3 (AUTHOR), Ascenti, Giorgio3 (AUTHOR), Vogl, Thomas J.1,2 (AUTHOR), Booz, Christian1,4 (AUTHOR) boozchristian@gmail.com
Source: European Radiology. Dec2021, Vol. 31 Issue 12, p9221-9231. 11p. 2 Color Photographs, 1 Diagram, 4 Charts, 1 Graph.
Subjects: Intervertebral disk hernias, Dual energy CT (Tomography), Spinal nerve roots, Intervertebral disk, Intervertebral disk displacement, Magnetic resonance imaging
Abstract: Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy CT (DECT) virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard grayscale CT. Methods: In this retrospective study, 87 patients (1131 intervertebral disks; mean age, 66 years; 47 women) who underwent third-generation dual-source DECT and 3.0-T MRI within 3 weeks between November 2016 and April 2020 were included. Five blinded radiologists analyzed standard DECT and color-coded VNCa images after a time interval of 8 weeks for the presence and degree of thoracic disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement. Consensus reading of independently evaluated MRI series served as the reference standard, assessed by two separate experienced readers. Additionally, image ratings were carried out by using 5-point Likert scales. Results: MRI revealed a total of 133 herniated thoracic disks. Color-coded VNCa images yielded higher overall sensitivity (624/665 [94%; 95% CI, 0.89–0.96] vs 485/665 [73%; 95% CI, 0.67–0.80]), specificity (4775/4990 [96%; 95% CI, 0.90–0.98] vs 4066/4990 [82%; 95% CI, 0.79–0.84]), and accuracy (5399/5655 [96%; 95% CI, 0.93–0.98] vs 4551/5655 [81%; 95% CI, 0.74–0.86]) for the assessment of thoracic disk herniation compared to standard CT (all p <.001). Interrater agreement was excellent for VNCa and fair for standard CT (ϰ = 0.82 vs 0.37; p <.001). In addition, VNCa imaging achieved higher scores regarding diagnostic confidence, image quality, and noise compared to standard CT (all p <.001). Conclusions: Color-coded VNCa imaging yielded substantially higher diagnostic accuracy and confidence for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard CT. Key Points: • Color-coded VNCa reconstructions derived from third-generation dual-source dual-energy CT yielded significantly higher diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of thoracic disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement compared to standard grayscale CT. • VNCa imaging provided higher diagnostic confidence and image quality at lower noise levels compared to standard grayscale CT. • Color-coded VNCa images may potentially serve as a viable imaging alternative to MRI under circumstances where MRI is unavailable or contraindicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Radiology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy CT (DECT) virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard grayscale CT. Methods: In this retrospective study, 87 patients (1131 intervertebral disks; mean age, 66 years; 47 women) who underwent third-generation dual-source DECT and 3.0-T MRI within 3 weeks between November 2016 and April 2020 were included. Five blinded radiologists analyzed standard DECT and color-coded VNCa images after a time interval of 8 weeks for the presence and degree of thoracic disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement. Consensus reading of independently evaluated MRI series served as the reference standard, assessed by two separate experienced readers. Additionally, image ratings were carried out by using 5-point Likert scales. Results: MRI revealed a total of 133 herniated thoracic disks. Color-coded VNCa images yielded higher overall sensitivity (624/665 [94%; 95% CI, 0.89–0.96] vs 485/665 [73%; 95% CI, 0.67–0.80]), specificity (4775/4990 [96%; 95% CI, 0.90–0.98] vs 4066/4990 [82%; 95% CI, 0.79–0.84]), and accuracy (5399/5655 [96%; 95% CI, 0.93–0.98] vs 4551/5655 [81%; 95% CI, 0.74–0.86]) for the assessment of thoracic disk herniation compared to standard CT (all p <.001). Interrater agreement was excellent for VNCa and fair for standard CT (ϰ = 0.82 vs 0.37; p <.001). In addition, VNCa imaging achieved higher scores regarding diagnostic confidence, image quality, and noise compared to standard CT (all p <.001). Conclusions: Color-coded VNCa imaging yielded substantially higher diagnostic accuracy and confidence for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard CT. Key Points: • Color-coded VNCa reconstructions derived from third-generation dual-source dual-energy CT yielded significantly higher diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of thoracic disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement compared to standard grayscale CT. • VNCa imaging provided higher diagnostic confidence and image quality at lower noise levels compared to standard grayscale CT. • Color-coded VNCa images may potentially serve as a viable imaging alternative to MRI under circumstances where MRI is unavailable or contraindicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:09387994
DOI:10.1007/s00330-021-07989-5