Purpose To evaluate the application value of CE-Boost technology in head and neck CT angiography(CTA)with low tube voltage,low contrast agent dosage and low injection rate.Materials and Methods A prospective study was conducted on patients who underwent head and neck CTA at Ji'nan People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from September to December 2023.Using block randomization,patients were divided into group A(n=30)and group B(n=30).Group A underwent conventional scanning with 120 kV tube voltage,50 ml iodinated contrast agent and 5.0 ml/s injection rate;while group B underwent scanning with 100 kV tube voltage,30 ml iodinated contrast agent and 3.0 ml/s injection rate.CE-Boost images(group B2)were generated by performing flexible subtraction between the enhanced images of group B(group B1)and non-contrast images.CT values,noise,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of major vessels were measured and calculated.Subjective image quality was assessed using a 5-point scale.Vascular CT values,noise,signal-to-noise ratio,contrast-to-noise ratio,subjective scores and radiation dose were compared among the three groups.Results No significant differences in noise were observed among group A,B1 and B2(all P>0.05).The aortic arch CT values,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio in group B2 were significantly higher than those in group B1 and A(all P<0.05),while group B1 exhibited significantly lower values than group A(all P<0.05).For other vessels,group B2 demonstrated significantly higher CT values,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio than group B1(all P<0.05),but no significant differences were found compared with group A(all P>0.05).Subjective scores were significantly higher in group A[5(5,5)point]and group B2[5(5,5)point]than in group B1[4(3,4)point](Z=-4.790,-4.564,both P<0.001),with no significant difference between groups A and B2(Z=-1.076,P=0.163).Group B reduced iodine intake and injection rate by 40%compared with group A(iodine intake:11.1 g vs.18.5 g;injection rate:3.0 ml/s vs.5.0 ml/s)and achieved a 30%reduction in effective radiation dose[(1.02±0.95)mSv vs.(1.44±1.66)mSv,t=12.217,P<0.001].Conclusion For patients with body mass index<28 kg/m2,CE-Boost combined with 100 kV tube voltage,30 ml iodinated contrast agent and 3.0 ml/s injection rate in head and neck CTA significantly reduces radiation dose,iodine load and injection rate while maintaining image quality.

Purpose To evaluate the application value of CE-Boost technology in head and neck CT angiography(CTA)with low tube voltage,low contrast agent dosage and low injection rate.Materials and Methods A prospective study was conducted on patients who underwent head and neck CTA at Ji'nan People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from September to December 2023.Using block randomization,patients were divided into group A(n=30)and group B(n=30).Group A underwent conventional scanning with 120 kV tube voltage,50 ml iodinated contrast agent and 5.0 ml/s injection rate;while group B underwent scanning with 100 kV tube voltage,30 ml iodinated contrast agent and 3.0 ml/s injection rate.CE-Boost images(group B2)were generated by performing flexible subtraction between the enhanced images of group B(group B1)and non-contrast images.CT values,noise,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of major vessels were measured and calculated.Subjective image quality was assessed using a 5-point scale.Vascular CT values,noise,signal-to-noise ratio,contrast-to-noise ratio,subjective scores and radiation dose were compared among the three groups.Results No significant differences in noise were observed among group A,B1 and B2(all P>0.05).The aortic arch CT values,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio in group B2 were significantly higher than those in group B1 and A(all P<0.05),while group B1 exhibited significantly lower values than group A(all P<0.05).For other vessels,group B2 demonstrated significantly higher CT values,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio than group B1(all P<0.05),but no significant differences were found compared with group A(all P>0.05).Subjective scores were significantly higher in group A[5(5,5)point]and group B2[5(5,5)point]than in group B1[4(3,4)point](Z=-4.790,-4.564,both P<0.001),with no significant difference between groups A and B2(Z=-1.076,P=0.163).Group B reduced iodine intake and injection rate by 40%compared with group A(iodine intake:11.1 g vs.18.5 g;injection rate:3.0 ml/s vs.5.0 ml/s)and achieved a 30%reduction in effective radiation dose[(1.02±0.95)mSv vs.(1.44±1.66)mSv,t=12.217,P<0.001].Conclusion For patients with body mass index<28 kg/m2,CE-Boost combined with 100 kV tube voltage,30 ml iodinated contrast agent and 3.0 ml/s injection rate in head and neck CTA significantly reduces radiation dose,iodine load and injection rate while maintaining image quality.