Table 3.
Mean objective image quality parameters with 95% confidence interval of the three coronary arteries (RCA, LCx, and LAD), aorta, and muscle tissue.
| RCA | LCx | LAD | Aorta | Muscle | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoC protocol | CT value (HU) | 301.5 (262.8–340.2) | 321.9 (289.5–354.3) | 297.6 (250.5–344.7) | 347.9 (321.9–373.9) | 123.1 (107.6–138.6) |
| SD | 46.3 (32.1–60.4) | 52.9 (37.7–68.2) | 53.2 (39.8–66.7) | 55.3 (45–65.5) | 50.6 (41.6–59.7) | |
| SNR | 7.1 (5–9.2) | 6.6 (4.8–8.4) | 5.8 (4.7–6.9) | 6.5 (5.4–7.6) | 2.5 (1.9–3.2) | |
| CNR | 3.6 (2.5–6.1) | 4 (3–5.1) | 3.5 (2.6–4.3) | 4.6 (3.6–5.5) | ||
|
| ||||||
| Protocol A |
CT value (HU) | 268.3 (233.5–303.1) | 277.4 (242.8–313.1) | 281.4 (256.3–306.6) | 359.7 (332.9–386.4) | 132.1 (110.3–153.8) |
| SD | 34 (22.8–45.2) | 40.8 (32.5–49.1) | 50.6 (36.2–65) | 42.8 (38.3–47.4) | 40.7 (34.2–47.3) | |
| SNR | 8.6 (6.2–11) | 7.1 (5.5–8.7) | 6.2 (4–8.3) | 8.5∗ (7.1–10) | 3.2∗ (3–3.5) | |
| CNR | 3.6 (2.1–5.1) | 3.8 (2.2–5.4) | 3.9 (2.1–5.8) | 5.9 (4.1–7.7) | ||
|
| ||||||
| Protocol B |
CT value (HU) | 250.7 (214.5–287) | 275.3 (234.9–315.8) | 248 (197.4–298.5) | 326.5 (300.8–352.2) | 116 (91.1–140.8) |
| SD | 30.5 (24.1–36.9) | 30.7∗ (24.4–37) | 37.1∗ (22.9–51.3) | 37.9∗ (34.4–41.4) | 32.6∗ (27.5–37.7) | |
| SNR | 8.6 (6.5–10.7) | 9.4 (6.8–12) | 7.4 (5–9.8) | 8.7∗ (7.5–9.9) | 3.6∗ (3–4.2) | |
| CNR | 4.3 (2.5–6.1) | 5.1 (3.3–6.8) | 4.3 (2–6.6) | 6.7∗ (4.7–8.7) | ||
∗ indicates significant difference compared to reference protocol (p < 0.05).