Application value of dual-source virtual non-contrast CT combined with AI in diagnosis of acute intracranial hemorrhage

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical value of dual-source virtual non-contrast (VNC) CT combined with artificial intelligence (AI) in the diagnosis of acute intracranial hemorrhage. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on the imaging data of non-contrast CT and dual-energy CT angiography (CTA) in 67 patients with suspected intracranial hemorrhage. They were 32 males and 35 females, at an average age of 56.2±12.5 (35~89) years. The differences of average CT value, noise, signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast noise ratio (CNR) and radiation dose between VNCT and NCCT were analyzed. Taken the common diagnosis results of two radiologists as the reference standard, the type of intracranial hemorrhage, the degree of midline structural deviation, the long and short diameters of the largest hemorrhage layer and the volume of hematoma were analyzed by AI software under VNCT and NCCT images. And the time taken by radiologists and AI to obtain the above quantitative evaluation indexes was compared. Results In the objective evaluation, the average CT value, SNR and CNR were significantly lower (P 0.05). In the quantitative analysis, VNCT+AI had good consistency with manual measurement results in terms of the above indicators (ICC=0.820, 0.942, 0.920, and 0.959, P < 0.001). In terms of the time required for AI diagnosis, VNCT need significantly shorter time than NCCT(50.6±15.9 vs 58.5±24.9 s, P < 0.001). Conclusion Dual-source VNC technology has low radiation dose, simple and fast examination process, and high accuracy in the diagnosis of acute intracranial hemorrhage when combined with AI. And the quantitative evaluation indexes of VNCT+AI are in good consistency with radiologists and has potential clinical application value.

Keywords

• tomography
• x-ray computed
• virtual non-contrast
• intracranial hemorrhage
• artificial intelligence