Background: Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has become an established complement in cardiac imaging. Thus, optimized image quality is diagnostically crucial.
Purpose: To prospectively evaluate whether, by using 64-slice CT, a specific reconstruction interval can be identified providing best image quality for all coronary artery segments and each individual coronary artery.
Material and Methods: 311 coronary segments of 14 men and seven women were analyzed using 64-slice CT. Data reconstruction was performed in 5% increments from 5–100% of the R–R interval. Four experienced observers independently evaluated image quality of the coronary arteries according to the AHA classification. A three-point ranking scale was applied: 1, very poor, no evaluation possible; 2, diagnostically sufficient quality; 3, highest image quality, no artifacts.
Results: The best reconstruction point for all segments was found to be 65% of the R–R interval (mean value 2.4±0.5; P<0.05). On a per-artery basis, best image quality was again achieved at 65% of the R–R interval: RCA 2.2±0.4, LCA 2.4±0.5, LM 2.5±0.2, LAD 2.3±0.4, LCX 2.3±0.5.
Conclusion: By using 64-slice CT, the need for adjusting the reconstruction point to each coronary segment might be overcome. Best image quality was achieved with image reconstruction at 65% of the R–R interval for all coronary segments as well as each coronary artery.
