Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: To externally validate the performance of automated postprocessing (AP) on head and neck CT Angiography (CTA) and compare it with manual postprocessing (MP).
METHODS: This retrospective study included head and neck CTA-exams of patients from three tertiary hospitals acquired on CT scanners from five manufacturers. AP was performed by CerebralDoc. The image quality was assessed using Likert scales, and the qualitative and quantitative diagnostic performance of arterial stenosis and aneurysm, postprocessing time, and scanning radiation dose were also evaluated.
RESULTS: A total of 250 patients were included. Among these, 55 patients exhibited significant stenosis (≥ 50%), and 33 patients had aneurysms, diagnosed using original CTA datasets and corresponding multiplanar reconstructions as the reference. While the scores of the V4 segment and the edge of the M1 segment on volume rendering (VR), as well as the C4 segment on maximum intensity projection (MIP), were significantly lower with AP compared to MP across vendors (all P < 0.05), most scores in AP demonstrated image quality that was either superior to or comparable with that of MP. Furthermore, the diagnostic performance of AP was either superior to or comparable with that of MP. Moreover, AP also exhibited advantages in terms of postprocessing time and radiation dose when compared to MP (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The AP of CerebralDoc presents clear advantages over MP and holds significant clinical value. However, further optimization is required in the image quality of the V4 and M1 segments on VR as well as the C4 segment on MIP.
METHODS: This retrospective study included head and neck CTA-exams of patients from three tertiary hospitals acquired on CT scanners from five manufacturers. AP was performed by CerebralDoc. The image quality was assessed using Likert scales, and the qualitative and quantitative diagnostic performance of arterial stenosis and aneurysm, postprocessing time, and scanning radiation dose were also evaluated.
RESULTS: A total of 250 patients were included. Among these, 55 patients exhibited significant stenosis (≥ 50%), and 33 patients had aneurysms, diagnosed using original CTA datasets and corresponding multiplanar reconstructions as the reference. While the scores of the V4 segment and the edge of the M1 segment on volume rendering (VR), as well as the C4 segment on maximum intensity projection (MIP), were significantly lower with AP compared to MP across vendors (all P < 0.05), most scores in AP demonstrated image quality that was either superior to or comparable with that of MP. Furthermore, the diagnostic performance of AP was either superior to or comparable with that of MP. Moreover, AP also exhibited advantages in terms of postprocessing time and radiation dose when compared to MP (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The AP of CerebralDoc presents clear advantages over MP and holds significant clinical value. However, further optimization is required in the image quality of the V4 and M1 segments on VR as well as the C4 segment on MIP.
摘要：
目的：从外部验证自动后处理（AP）在头颈部CT血管造影（CTA）上的性能，并将其与手动后处理（MP）进行比较。
方法：这项回顾性研究包括来自三家三级医院的患者的头颈部CTA检查，这些患者使用来自五家制造商的CT扫描仪。AP由CerebralDoc执行。使用Likert量表评估图像质量，以及动脉狭窄和动脉瘤的定性和定量诊断性能，后处理时间,和扫描辐射剂量也进行了评估。
结果：共纳入250例患者。其中,55例患者出现明显狭窄（≥50%），33个病人有动脉瘤,使用原始CTA数据集和相应的多平面重建作为参考进行诊断。而V4段和M1段的边缘在体绘制（VR）上的分数，以及最大强度投影(MIP)上的C4段，与各供应商的MP相比，AP显著降低(所有P<0.05)，AP的大多数评分显示图像质量优于或与MP相当.此外，AP的诊断性能优于或与MP相当.此外，与MP相比，AP在后处理时间和辐射剂量方面也表现出优势（P<0.001）。
结论：CerebralDoc的AP比MP具有明显的优势，具有重要的临床价值。然而,VR上的V4和M1段以及MIP上的C4段的图像质量需要进一步优化。
方法：这项回顾性研究包括来自三家三级医院的患者的头颈部CTA检查，这些患者使用来自五家制造商的CT扫描仪。AP由CerebralDoc执行。使用Likert量表评估图像质量，以及动脉狭窄和动脉瘤的定性和定量诊断性能，后处理时间,和扫描辐射剂量也进行了评估。
结果：共纳入250例患者。其中,55例患者出现明显狭窄（≥50%），33个病人有动脉瘤,使用原始CTA数据集和相应的多平面重建作为参考进行诊断。而V4段和M1段的边缘在体绘制（VR）上的分数，以及最大强度投影(MIP)上的C4段，与各供应商的MP相比，AP显著降低(所有P<0.05)，AP的大多数评分显示图像质量优于或与MP相当.此外，AP的诊断性能优于或与MP相当.此外，与MP相比，AP在后处理时间和辐射剂量方面也表现出优势（P<0.001）。
结论：CerebralDoc的AP比MP具有明显的优势，具有重要的临床价值。然而,VR上的V4和M1段以及MIP上的C4段的图像质量需要进一步优化。
