Single energy metal artifact reduction performs better than virtual monoenergetic dual-energy reconstruction in CT of the equine proximal phalanx.
Abstract: Metal artifacts in CT negatively impact the evaluation of surgical implants and the surrounding tissues. The aim of this prospective experimental study was to evaluate the ability of a single energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR™, Canon) algorithm and virtual monoenergetic (VM) dual-energy CT (DECT) scanning techniques to reduce metal artifacts from stainless steel screws surgically inserted into the equine proximal phalanx. Seven acquisitions of 18 cadaver limbs were performed on a Canon Aquilion One Vision CT scanner (Helical +SEMAR, Volume +SEMAR, Standard Helical, Standard Volume and VM DECT at 135, 120, and 105 keV) and reconstructed in a bone kernel. Blinded subjective evaluation performed by three observers indicated a significant effect of acquisition in both adjacent tissues (P < 0.001) and distant tissues (P < 0.001) and the best metal artifact reduction was seen with Helical +SEMAR and Volume +SEMAR. The subjective overall preference of CT acquisition type was (1) Helical +SEMAR, (2) Volume +SEMAR, (3) VM DECT 135 keV, (4) VM DECT 120 keV, (5) VM DECT 105 keV, (6) Standard Helical, (7) Standard Volume (P < 0.001). Unblinded objective evaluation performed by one observer showed that VM DECT 120 keV, Helical +SEMAR, and Volume +SEMAR performed similarly and were objectively the best at reducing blooming artifact. Overall, the best metal artifact reduction was obtained with SEMAR, followed by VM DECT. However, VM DECT performance varies with energy level and was associated with decreased image quality in distant tissues and artifactual overcorrection of metal artifacts at high energy levels.
© 2023 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
Publication Date: 2023-06-06 PubMed ID: 37280760DOI: 10.1111/vru.13258Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research investigated the effectiveness of using a Single Energy Metal Artifact Reduction (SEMAR) tool as against Virtual Monoenergetic (VM) dual-energy CT scan to decrease metal artifacts from stainless steel screws inserted into horse leg bones. The study showed that the SEMAR technique produces better results than VM when employed at high energy levels.
Objective of Research
- The article focuses on an experimental study whose aim is to compare the performance of two different strategies – SEMAR and VM dual-energy CT (DECT) scanning – in reducing metal artifacts created by stainless steel screws inserted into the horse’s proximal phalanx (a bone in the leg).
Research Methodology
- The researchers utilized 18 cadaver limbs for the experiment. They conducted seven acquisitions using a Canon Aquilion One Vision CT scanner on each limb and reconstructed them in a bone kernel.
- They applied different techniques including Standard Helical, Standard Volume, VM DECT at 135, 120, and 105 keV energies and two SEMAR techniques: Helical +SEMAR and Volume +SEMAR.
- The evaluation was two-fold: a subjective evaluation by three independent observers and an unblinded objective evaluation by one observer.
Results
- The subjective evaluation proved that the type of acquisition had a significant effect on both nearby and distant tissues, with the greatest metal artifact reduction achieved with methods involving SEMAR — namely, Helical +SEMAR and Volume +SEMAR.
- Additionally, the SEMAR techniques were voted as the most preferred, followed by various energy levels of VM DECT, and then the standard techniques.
- The unblinded objective evaluation revealed that VM DECT 120 keV, Helical +SEMAR, and Volume +SEMAR were the best at reducing blooming artifacts.
Conclusion and Implications
- The study concludes that the SEMAR method is more efficient than VM DECT in reducing metal artifacts, primarily at high energy levels.
- However, the researchers note that VM DECT performance varies with its energy level, and its use can result in decreased image quality in distant tissues and overcorrections of metal artifacts at high energy levels.
Cite This Article
APA
Faulkner JE, Broeckx BJG, Martens A, Raes E, Haardt H, Vanderperren K.
(2023).
Single energy metal artifact reduction performs better than virtual monoenergetic dual-energy reconstruction in CT of the equine proximal phalanx.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 64(4), 677-685.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13258 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Large Animal Surgery, Anesthesia and Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Large Animal Surgery, Anesthesia and Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
- Artifacts
- Metals
- Prospective Studies
- Algorithms
References
This article includes 31 references
- Kuemmerle JM, Auer JA, Rademacher N, Lischer CJ, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Fürst AE. Short incomplete sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in ten horses not used for racing.. Vet Surg 2008; 37:193-200.
- Brünisholz HP, Hagen R, Fürst AE, Kuemmerle JM. Radiographic and Computed Tomographic Configuration of Incomplete Proximal Fractures of the Proximal Phalanx in Horses Not Used for Racing.. Vet Surg 2015; 44:809-815.
- Gold SJ, Werpy NM, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD. Injuries of the Sagittal Groove of the Proximal Phalanx in Warmblood Horses Detected With Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging: 19 Cases (2007-2016).. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2017; 58:344-353.
- Mizobe F, Nomura M, Ueno T, Yamada K. Bone marrow oedema-type signal in the proximal phalanx of Thoroughbred racehorses.. J Vet Med Sci 2019; 81:593-597.
- Lipreri G, Bladon BM, Giorio ME, Singer ER. Conservative versus surgical treatment of 21 sports horses with osseous trauma in the proximal phalangeal sagittal groove diagnosed by low-field MRI.. Vet Surg 2018; 47:908-915.
- Dyson S, Nagy A, Murray R. Clinical and diagnostic imaging findings in horses with subchondral bone trauma of the sagittal groove of the proximal phalanx.. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2011; 52:596-604.
- Curtiss AL, Ortved KF, Dallap-Schaer B. Validation of standing cone beam computed tomography for diagnosing subchondral fetlock pathology in the Thoroughbred racehorse.. Equine Vet J 2021; 53:510-523.
- Smith MRW, Wright IM. Radiographic configuration and healing of 121 fractures of the proximal phalanx in 120 Thoroughbred racehorses (2007-2011).. Equine Vet J 2014; 46:81-87.
- Powell SE. Low-field standing magnetic resonance imaging findings of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint of racing Thoroughbreds with lameness localised to the region: a retrospective study of 131 horses.. Equine Vet J 2012; 44:169-177.
- Labens R, Khairuddin NH, Murray M, Jermyn K, Ahmad RS. In vitro comparison of linear vs triangular screw configuration to stabilize complete uniarticular parasagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in horses.. Vet Surg 2019; 48:96-104.
- Bryner MF, Hoey SE, Montavon S, Fürst AE, Kümmerle JM. Long-term clinical and radiographic results after lag screw ostheosynthesis of short incomplete proximal sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in horses not used for racing.. Vet Surg 2020; 49:88-95.
- Findley JA, O'Neill HD, Bladon BM. Outcome following repair of 63 sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in UK Thoroughbreds using either a triangular or linear screw configuration.. Equine Vet J 2021; 53:524-529.
- Pownder SL, Koff MF, Shah PH, Fortier LA, Potter HG. Magnetic resonance imaging of an equine fracture model containing stainless steel metal implants.. Equine Vet J 2016; 48:321-325.
- Barrett JF, Keat N. Artifacts in CT: recognition and Avoidance.. Radiographics 2004; 24:1679-1691.
- De Man B, Nuyts J, Dupont P, Marchai G, Suetens P. Metal streak artifacts in x-ray computed tomography: a simulation study.. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci 1999; 46:691-696.
- Moon SG, Hong SH, Choi JY. Metal artifact reduction by the alteration of technical factors in multidetector computed tomography: a 3-Dimensional quantitative assessment.. J Comput Assist Tomogr 2008; 32:630-633.
- Brash R, Labrador J, Holdsworth A. Visibility of Transcondylar Screw Fractures in Standard and Extended Scale Computed Tomography Images.. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2022; 35:128-133.
- Meinel FG, Bischoff B, Zhang Q, Bamberg F, Reiser MF, Johnson TRC. Metal artifact reduction by dual-energy computed tomography using energetic extrapolation: a systematically optimized protocol.. Invest Radiol 2012; 47:406-414.
- Zhang D, Angel E. Single Energy Metal Artifact Reduction A Reliable Metal Management Tool in CT, Toshiba America Medical Systems.. 2017.
- Barreto I, Pepin E, Davis I. Comparison of metal artifact reduction using single-energy CT and dual-energy CT with various metallic implants in cadavers.. Eur J Radiol 2020; 133:109357.
- Hirata K, Utsunomiya D, Oda S. Added value of a single-energy projection-based metal-artifact reduction algorithm for the computed tomography evaluation of oral cavity cancers.. Jpn J Radiol Springer Japan 2015; 33:650-656.
- Bongers MN, Schabel C, Thomas C. Comparison and combination of dual-energy- and iterative-based metal artefact reduction on hip prosthesis and dental implants.. PLoS One 2015; 10:1-12.
- Bolstad K, Flatabø S, Aadnevik D, Dalehaug I, Vetti N. Metal artifact reduction in CT, a phantom study: subjective and objective evaluation of four commercial metal artifact reduction algorithms when used on three different orthopedic metal implants.. Acta radiol 2018; 59:1110-1118.
- Kidoh M, Utsunomiya D, Oda S. CT venography after knee replacement surgery: comparison of dual-energy CT-based monochromatic imaging and single-energy metal artifact reduction techniques on a 320-row CT scanner.. Acta Radiol Open 2017; 6:2058460117693463.
- Andersson KM, Nowik P, Persliden J, Thunberg P, Norrman E. Metal artefact reduction in CT imaging of hip prostheses-an evaluation of commercial techniques provided by four vendors.. Br J Radiol 2015; 88:20140473.
- Gondim Teixeira PA, Meyer JB, Baumann C. Total hip prosthesis CT with single-energy projection-based metallic artifact reduction: impact on the visualization of specific periprosthetic soft tissue structures.. Skeletal Radiol 2014; 43:1237-1246.
- Albrecht MH, Vogl TJ, Martin SS. Review of clinical applications for virtual monoenergetic dual-energy CT.. Radiology 2019; 293:260-271.
- Dong Y, Shi AJ, Wu JL. Metal artifact reduction using virtual monochromatic images for patients with pedicle screws implants on CT.. Eur Spine J 2016; 25:1754-1763.
- Andersson KM, Norrman E, Geijer H. Visual grading evaluation of commercially available metal artefact reduction techniques in hip prosthesis computed tomography.. Br J Radiol 2016; 89:20150993.
- Wang Y, Qian B, Li B. Metal artifacts reduction using monochromatic images from spectral CT: evaluation of pedicle screws in patients with scoliosis.. Eur J Radiol 2013; 82:e360-e366.
- Patino M, Prochowski A, Agrawal MD. Material separation using dual-energy CT: current and emerging applications.. Radiographics 2016; 36:1087-1105.
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Dalla Serra G, Maurin MP, Skelly C, Hernandez-Girón I, Hoey S. Effects of Metal Implants on Computed Tomographic Attenuation Values in the Canine Antebrachium: A Cadaveric Study. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2025 Nov;66(6):e70103.
- Germonpré J, Lorenz I, Vandekerckhove LMJ, Duchateau L, Diekhoff T, Vanderperren K. Dual-Energy Computed Tomography for the Detection of Bone Edema-Like Lesions in the Equine Foot: Standing Horses and Cadaveric Specimens. Vet Sci 2025 Jun 24;12(7).
- Steiner J, Richter H, Kaufmann R, Ohlerth S. Characterization of Normal Bone in the Equine Distal Limb with Effective Atomic Number and Electron Density Determined with Single-Source Dual Energy and Detector-Based Spectral Computed Tomography. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 30;14(7).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists