CT artifacts from port systems: Virtual monoenergetic reconstructions from spectral-detector CT reduce artifacts and improve depiction of surrounding tissue.

CT artifacts from port-systems are a common problem in staging- and restaging-examinations and reduce image quality and diagnostic assessment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reduction of these artifacts using virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) from dual-energy spectral-detector CT (SDCT) in comparison to conventional CT-images (CI). 50 SDCT-datasets of patients with artifacts from port-chamber and port-catheters were included in this IRB-approved, retrospective study. CI and VMI (range, 40-200 keV, 10 keV increment) were reconstructed from the same acquisition. The quantitative image analysis was performed ROI-based assessing mean and standard deviation of attenuation (HU) in most pronounced hypo- and hyperdense artifacts surrounding to the port-chamber and the distal end of the port-catheter in the superior vena cava. Subjectively, artifact reduction and diagnostic assessment of surrounding soft tissue were rated on 5-point Likert-scales. In comparison to CI, VMI of higher keV-values showed strong reduction of hypo- and hyperattenuating artifacts around the port-chamber and port-catheter (CI/VMI Higher keV VMI enabled a significant reduction of artifacts from port-systems around the chamber and the catheter leading to improved assessment of surrounding soft tissue.

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Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.