Systematic analysis on the relationship between luminal enhancement, convolution kernel, plaque density, and luminal diameter of coronary artery stenosis: a CT phantom study

To systematically investigate into the relationships between luminal enhancement, convolution kernel, plaque density, and stenosis severity in coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography. A coronary phantom including 63 stenoses (stenosis severity, 10–90 %; plaque densities, −100 to 1,000 HU) was loaded with increasing solutions of contrast material (luminal enhancement, 0–700 HU) and scanned in an anthropomorphic chest. CT data was acquired with prospective triggering using 64-section dual-source CT; reconstructions were performed with soft-tissue (B26f) and sharp convolution kernels (B46f). Two blinded and independent readers quantitatively assessed luminal diameter and CT number of plaque using electronic calipers. Measurement bias between phantom dimensions and CT measurements were calculated. Multivariate linear regression models identified predictors of bias. Inter- and intra-reader agreements of luminal diameter and CT number measurements were excellent (ICCs > 0.91, p < 0.01, each). Measurement bias of luminal diameter and plaque density was significantly (p < 0.01, each) lower (−12 % and 58 HU, respectively) with B46f as opposed to B26f, especially in plaque densities >200 HU. Measurement bias was significantly (p < 0.01, each) correlated (ρ = 0.37–55 and ρ = −0.70–85) with the differences between luminal enhancement and plaque density. In multivariate models, bias of luminal diameter assessment with CT was correlated with plaque density (β = 0.09, p < 0.05). Convolution kernel (β = −0.29 and −0.38), stenosis severity (β = −0.45 and −0.38), and luminal enhancement (β = −0.11 and −0.29) represented independent (p < 0.05,each) predictors of measurement bias of luminal diameter and plaque number, respectively. Significant independent relationships exist between luminal enhancement, convolution kernel, plaque density, and luminal diameter, which have to be taken into account when performing, evaluating, and interpreting coronary CT angiography.