This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a step artifact reduction algorithm in improving the image quality of sequential coronary CT angiography.
Retrospective analysis of 79 patients undergoing sequential coronary CT angiography.
Comparison of standard reconstruction, step artifact reduction algorithm, and combined approach with motion-compensated reconstruction.
Quantitative assessment of lumen continuity using the Jaccard index and whole-heart continuity via histogram entropy.
Step artifact reduction algorithm increased mean Jaccard index from 0.38 to 0.58 (+0.20; 95% CI: 0.16-0.23; P<0.01; d=0.84).
Entropy decreased from 3.81 to 3.51, indicating fewer step-related structures (P<0.01; d=-3.12).
In motion-affected RCA segments, Jaccard index improved from 0.35 to 0.70 when combining SAR and MCR (+0.22; P<0.01; d=0.89).