Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Volume 4, Issue 2 , Pages 110-115, March 2010

Influence of slice thickness and reconstruction kernel on the computed tomographic attenuation of coronary atherosclerotic plaque

  • Stephan Achenbach, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • Kerstin Boehmer

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Tobias Pflederer, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Dieter Ropers, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Martin Seltmann, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Michael Lell, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Katharina Anders, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Axel Kuettner, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Michael Uder, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Werner G. Daniel, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Mohamed Marwan, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany

Received 19 October 2009; accepted 10 January 2010. published online 21 January 2010.

Background

The computed tomographic (CT) attenuation of coronary atherosclerotic plaque has been proposed as a marker for tissue characterization and may thus potentially contribute to the assessment of plaque instability.

Objective

We analyzed the influence of reconstruction parameters on CT attenuation measured within noncalcified coronary atherosclerotic lesions.

Methods

Seventy-two patients were studied by contrast-enhanced dual-source CT coronary angiography (330 millisecond rotation time, 2 × 64 × 0.6 mm collimation, 120 kV, 400 mAs, 80 mL contrast agent intravenously at 6 mL/s), and a total of 100 distinct noncalcified coronary atherosclerotic plaques were identified. Image data sets were reconstructed with a soft (B20f), medium soft (B26f), and sharp (B46f) reconstruction kernel. With the medium soft kernel, image data sets were reconstructed with a slice thickness/increment of 0.6/0.3 mm, 0.75/0.4 mm, and 1.0/0.5mm. Within each plaque, CT attenuation was measured.

Results

Mean CT attenuation using the medium soft kernel was 109 ± 58 HU (range, −16 to 168 HU). Using the soft kernel, mean density was 113 ± 57 HU (range, −13 to 169 HU), and using a sharp kernel, mean density was 97 ± 49 HU (range, −23 to 131 HU). Similarly, reconstructed slice thickness had a significant influence on the measured CT attenuation (mean values for medium soft kernel: 102 ± 52 HU versus 109 ± 58 HU versus 113 ± 57 HU for 0.6-mm, 0.75-mm, and 1.0-mm slice thickness). The differences between 0.75-mm and 0.6-mm slice thickness (P = 0.05) and between medium sharp and sharp kernels (P = 0.02) were statistically significant.

Conclusions

Image reconstruction significantly influences CT attenuation of noncalcified coronary atherosclerotic plaque. With decreasing spatial resolution (softer kernel or thicker slices), CT attenuation increases significantly. Using absolute CT attenuation values for plaque characterization may therefore be problematic.

Keywords: Attentuation, Computed tomography, Kernel, Plaque

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 Conflict of interest: Drs. Achenbach, Lell, Kuettner, Anders, Pflederer, Marwan, Ropers, and Uder have received speaking honoraria from Siemens Healthcare. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

 The study was supported by Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Bonn, Germany (grant BMBF 01 EV 0708) and by research grants from Siemens Healthcare (S.A., M.L., A.K., and M.U.).

PII: S1934-5925(10)00016-X

doi:10.1016/j.jcct.2010.01.013

Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Volume 4, Issue 2 , Pages 110-115, March 2010

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