Brilliance ict sp

HRCT was undertaken on a multidetector-row computed tomography (CT) scanner (Sensation Cardiac 64; Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) or Brilliance iCT SP (Philips, Best, The Netherlands). Inspiratory and expiratory HRCT images were acquired using volumetric acquisition in the craniocaudal direction. CT parameters were 64 detectors ×0.5-mm collimation, a gantry rotation time of 0.33 s, and a pitch of 0.9-1.45 depending on the machine used. Before CT, each patient was taught the technique for deep inspiration and breath-hold and how to carry out dynamic forced expiration throughout the scan. End-inspiratory CT images were obtained first using the tube potential of 120 kVp and the tube current-time product of 70–180 mAs. Dynamic forced expiratory CT was done subsequently and coordinated with the onset of the expiratory effort using the tube potential of 100 kVp or 120 kVp and the tube current-time product of 40–100 mAs. Images were retro-reconstructed with a section thickness of 1 mm and section interval of 0.7 mm and with low-and high-spatial-frequency algorithms for mediastinal window (window level, 40 HU; window width, 400 HU) and lung window (window level, −650 HU; window width, 1450 HU) displays, respectively.
Two thoracic radiologists, who were blinded to the diagnosis and clinical data, reviewed HRCT images independently.

All patients included in the study underwent ECG-gated cardiac multidetector CT using a 128-detector-row CT scanner (Brilliance iCT SP; Philips Healthcare, Best, The Netherlands). Individuals presenting with a baseline heart rate of >70 beats/min received an oral β-blocker (0.125 mg/kg landiolol hydrochloride; Ono Pharmaceutical, Osaka, Japan) 5 minutes before scanning started. Standard coronary CT angiography was performed with a 13-s intravenous infusion of Iopamiron 370 (240 mg/mL; Bayer HealthCare, Osaka, Japan). The acquisition parameters for calcification and cardiac CT imaging were as follows: detector collimation, 64 × 0.625 mm; tube rotation time, 270 ms; tube voltage, 120 kVp; tube current, 228.6 ± 57.5 mA (range, 100–370 mA); and volume CT dose index, 22.2 ± 5.5 mGy (range, 4.9–34.5 mGy). The calcium scoring protocol comprised prospective ECG-gating at 75% or 40% of the R–R interval, with collimation of 64 × 0.625 mm, gantry rotation time of 270 ms, standard cardiac filter, 2.5 mm slice thickness, and a tube voltage of 120 kV. The scan range was from the aortic arch to the diaphragm.