Non-helical overlapping scan (NHOS) for the application of 3D-CT angiography of cerebral blood vessels

Abstract

To improve of cerebral blood vessel visualization and reduce cone beam artifacts from high absorbance materials such as bone structure in 3D-CTA of cerebral blood vessels, we suggest that a non-helical overlapping scan (NHOS) be used. We found that the NHOS and the conventional helical scan optimized the conditions for clinical use of the NHOS. Z-resolution in the NHOS was much higher than that in the non-helical scan without slice overlap. FWHM of the NHOS were thin, about 47%, in comparison with that of the helical scan, and NHOS was superior in Z-resolution to that of the helical scan. Moreover, the NHOS had very few artifacts caused by the skull, and was useful for 3D-CTA of cerebral blood vessels.