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Table 5 Mean visual scores for image contrast, image noise and overall image quality

From: Effects of High-concentration contrast material and low-voltage CT on contrast for multiphasic CT of the upper abdomen: comparison using the simulation with virtual monochromatic imaging obtained by fast-switch kVp dual-energy CT

   

Group A

Group B

   

Score

Score

 

Phase

 

140 kVp

65 keV

50 keV

140 kVp

65 keV

50 keV

Image contrast

Early arterial

Reader 1

3.1 ± 0.3

3.4 ± 0.4

3.9 ± 0.2*

3.2 ± 0.4

3.4 ± 0.4

3.9 ± 0.2*

  

Reader 2

3.3 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.5

3.8 ± 0.3*

3.4 ± 0.5

3.5 ± 0.5

3.8 ± 0.3*

 

Late arterial

Reader 1

3.3 ± 0.4

3.8 ± 0.3

3.9 ± 0.2

3.5 ± 0.5

3.9 ± 0.1

4.0 ± 0.0

  

Reader 2

3.2 ± 0.5

3.8 ± 0.3

3.9 ± 0.2

3.5 ± 0.5

3.9 ± 0.2

4.0 ± 0.0

 

Portal venous

Reader 1

3.4 ± 0.5

3.8 ± 0.3

3.9 ± 0.1

3.4 ± 0.5

3.9 ± 0.1

3.9 ± 0.2

  

Reader 2

3.3 ± 0.5

3.8 ± 0.3

4.0 ± 0.0

3.4 ± 0.4

3.8 ± 0.3

3.9 ± 0.1

Image noise

Early arterial

Reader 1

3.7 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.4

2.9 ± 0.5*

3.7 ± 0.4

3.4 ± 0.5

2.9 ± 0.4*

  

Reader 2

3.9 ± 0.2

3.8 ± 0.7

3.3 ± 0.6*

3.9 ± 0.2

3.6 ± 0.5

3.3 ± 0.7

 

Late arterial

Reader 1

3.5 ± 0.5

3.2 ± 0.6

2.7 ± 0.7*

3.6 ± 0.4

3.1 ± 0.7

2.8 ± 0.6

  

Reader 2

4.0 ± 0.0

3.7 ± 0.8

3.4 ± 0.8

3.9 ± 0.2

3.8 ± 0.7

3.2 ± 0.9

 

Portal venous

Reader 1

3.4 ± 0.5

3.3 ± 0.6

3.2 ± 0.6

3.7 ± 0.4

3.3 ± 0.5

3.2 ± 0.4

  

Reader 2

3.9 ± 0.2

3.6 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.5

4.0 ± 0.0

3.7 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.5

Overall image quality

Early arterial

Reader 1

3.7 ± 0.4

3.4 ± 0.4

3.0 ± 0.3*

3.6 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.5

2.9 ± 0.3*

  

Reader 2

3.4 ± 0.5

3.5 ± 0.4

3.2 ± 0.6

3.5 ± 0.5

3.2 ± 0.8

3.2 ± 0.8

 

Late arterial

Reader 1

3.2 ± 0.4

3.2 ± 0.6

2.9 ± 0.6*

3.5 ± 0.5

3.2 ± 0.6

2.9 ± 0.6*

  

Reader 2

3.2 ± 0.5

3.6 ± 0.8

3.2 ± 0.6

3.5 ± 0.5

3.7 ± 0.7

3.2 ± 0.9

 

Portal venous

Reader 1

3.5 ± 0.5

3.5 ± 0.5

3.4 ± 0.5

3.7 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.5

3.4 ± 0.5

  

Reader 2

3.3 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.5

3.5 ± 0.5

3.5 ± 0.5

3.7 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.5

  1. Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation.
  2. *Differences were statistically significant between 65-keV and 50-keV images (p < 0.05).
  3. n.s.: not significant.