Influence of a new motion correction algorithm (CardioCapture) on the correlation between heart rate and optimal reconstruction phase

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of a new motion correction algorithm (CardioCapture) on the correlation between heart rate and optimal reconstruction phase by evaluating the impact of wide detector CT combined with CardioCapture on CCTA image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases were examined from April 2021 to September 2021. Two experienced radiologists scored these images on a four-point Likert scale. First, all images were divided into eight groups according to HR (at an interval of 5 bpm). The subjective score of images, the frequency of used CardioCapture, and the proportion of the diastolic reconstruction phase were compared in each group. Then, all cases were divided into two groups, one group was reconstructed using the automatic temporal reconstruction algorithm (Ephase) only, and the other group was reconstructed using the Ephase with the CardioCapture. The relationship between HR and the diastolic reconstruction phase was analyzed by the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC). RESULT: The data of 515 patients were studied. With the increase in HR, the subjective image score decreased, the frequency of CardioCapture increased, and the phase ratio of diastolic reconstruction decreased. When the HR was less than 70 bpm, the percentage of excellence image in each group surpassed 94.90%. The highest utilization rate of CardioCapture was 65.22%, and the lowest proportion of diastolic reconstruction was 72.46%. When 70 bpm < HR ≤ 75 bpm, the image excellence rate was 90.43%, the CardioCapture utilization rate was 82.05%, and the diastolic reconstruction rate was 56.41%.When 75 bpm < HR ≤ 80 bpm, the image excellence rate was 87.91%, the CardioCapture utilization rate was 80.65%, and the diastolic reconstruction was 6.45%.When the HR > 80 bpm, the image excellence rate was 80.00%, the CardioCapture utilization rate was 75.00%, and the diastolic reconstruction rate was 22.50%. The best cut-off point between HR and the diastolic reconstruction ROC curve in the groups without CardioCapture was 65 bpm, while that in groups with CardioCapture was 68 bpm. CONCLUSION: The CardioCapture can effectively improve the image quality of CCTA with high HR. By maintaining the HR below 68 bpm and utilizing the prospective ECG-gated narrow phase axial scan, it is possible to ensure optimal image quality and concurrently reduce radiation dose.