Effectuality study of a 3D motion correction algorithm in C-arm CTs of severely impaired image quality during transarterial chemoembolization

Background To evaluate effectivity of a 3D-motion correction algorithm in C-Arm CTs (CACT) with limited image quality (IQ) during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods From 1/2015–5/2021, 644 CACTs were performed in patients during TACE. Of these, 27 CACTs in 26 patients (18 m, 8f; 69.7 years ± 10.7 SD) of limited IQ were included. Post-processing of the original raw-data sets (CACT Org ) included application of a 3D-motion correction algorithm and bone segmentation (CACT MC_no_bone ). Four radiologists (R1-4) compared the images by choosing their preferred dataset and recommending repeat acquisition in case of severe IQ-impairment. R1,2 performed additional grading of intrahepatic vessel visualization, presence/extent of movement artifacts, and overall IQ. Results R1,2 demonstrated excellent interobserver agreement for overall IQ (ICC 0.79, p < 0.01) and the five-point vessel visualization scale before and after post-processing of the datasets (ICC 0.78, p < 0.01). Post-processing caused significant improvement, with overall IQ improving from 2.63 (CACT Org ) to 1.39 (CACT MC_no_bone ; p < 0.01) and a decrease in the mean distance of identifiable, subcapsular vessels to the liver capsule by 4 mm ( p < 0.01). This proved especially true for datasets with low parenchymal and high hepatic artery contrast. A good interobserver agreement (ICC = 0.73) was recorded concerning the presence of motion artifacts, with significantly less discernible motion after post-processing (CACT Org :1.31 ± 1.67, CACT MC_no_bone :1.00 ± 1.34, p < 0.01). Of the 27 datasets, ≥ 23 CACT MC_no_bone were preferred, with identical datasets chosen by the readers to show benefit from the algorithm. Conclusion Application of a 3D-motion correction algorithm significantly improved IQ in diagnostically limited CACTs during TACE, with the potential to decrease repeat acquisitions.