Objective
To explore the feasibility of mean temporal phase images calculated from perfusion CT datasets by using CT perfusion (CTP) of liver on the third-generation dual-source CT.
Methods
Twenty-two consecutive patients with suspected hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled, we retrospectively compared objective and subjective image quality, leson detectability, and radiation dose between mean temporal arterial (mTA) and mean temporal portal venous (mTPV) images which calculated from perfusion CT datasets with conventional enhanced arterial and portal venous datasets.
Results
① Image quality: compared with the conventional enhancement image, the standard deviation (SD) values of CTP images on liver (arterial phase), portal vein (arterial phase), and liver (portal vein phase) were lower (P<0.05); the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values of CTP images on aorta (arterial phase), portal vein (arterial phase), aorta (portal vein phase), and portal vein (portal vein phase) were all higher (P<0.05), the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) value of CTP images on aorta (arterial phase) was higher (P<0.05). ② The subjective image quality: the subjective image quality scores of CTP images (mTA and mTPV images) were higher when compared to responding conventional enhanced arterial and portal venous datasets (P<0.05). ③ The diagnostic efficiency: the CTP images and conventional enhancement images showed all the lesions, but the diagnostic efficiency images of CTP images was better than the conventional enhancement images, both on lesions of blood supply and lack of blood supply (P<0.05).
Conclusions
The image quality of mTA and mTPV datasets calculated from CTP datasets are non-inferior when compared to conventional enhanced arterial and portal venous acquisitions in patients with suspected hepatic lesions. Thus, CTP could be used as a stand-alone imaging technique without additionally performed conventional arterial and portal venous CT acquisitions.
Objective To investigate the improvement of professional and research abilities of medical imaging technology trainees after completing their training, and to provide reference for a clinical and research-oriented training model. Methods Medical imaging technology trainees who pursuedfurther training in the Department of Radiology at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between March 2020 and February 2024 were enrolled. Data were collected through targeted questionnaires, covering personal information, training process, and post-training outcomes upon returning to their home institutions. Results A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed, and 128 were returned. The survey results showed that trainees who successfully implemented new technologies were more likely to have held administrative positions prior to training compared to those who did not (34.7% vs. 15.1%; P=0.023). Trainees who trained for 6 months were more likely to participate in publications compared to those who trained for 3 months [odds ratio=4.77, 95% confidence interval (1.27, 17.96), P=0.021]. Conclusion The clinical and research training system enables imaging technologists to better implement new technologies and improve research abilities upon returning to their home institutions.
