Assessment of VIE image quality using helical CT angiography: in vitro phantom study

The aim of this study is to quantify the effects of helical CT acquisitions parameters on the magnitude of three-dimensional stair-step artefacts, visualization of renal ostium and morphologies of suprarenal stents observed using virtual intravascular endoscopy. This was performed in a phantom of the human abdominal aorta with a stent graft in situ. Stair-step artefacts were quantified by measuring the standard deviation of signal intensity on surface shaded images and the influence of these artefacts on the visualization of arterial ostia and stent morphologies were assessed by three radiologists. The methodology may be used to optimise the CT system performance for helical CT angiography in aortic stent grafting.