This study from Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals in Cleveland included 59 patients who underwent CCTA; the patients were scanned using a prototype spectral detector CT scanner (Philips Healthcare) to reduce calcium blooming in monoenergetic images acquired at 70 keV to 140 keV.
"In our study, we show that there is progressively lower calcium blooming at virtual monoenergetic images from 70 to 140 keV generated from a spectral detector CT scanner," Dr. Hamid Chalian told AuntMinnie.com. "This reduction of calcium blooming can improve the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA in patients with calcific plaques and decrease false-positive diagnosis."
Another study to be presented by the group at RSNA 2015 looked at suboptimal CCTA studies, which often require repeat contrast injection and repeat CT. But virtual monoenergetic images generated retrospectively using the same prototype spectral detector CT scanner enabled the clinicians to skip the extra scan.
"This technology will obviate the need for additional contrast injection and reduce radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic image quality," Chalian said.
