Impact of a motion correction algorithm on quality and diagnostic utility in unselected patients undergoing coronary CT angiography

Aims: The aims of the study were to investigate the diagnostic utility of motion correction reconstruction algorithm Snapshot Freeze (SSF) compared to the standard reconstruction algorithm (STD) in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images where a prescan heart-rate-lowering protocol is fully integrated. Methods: CCTA was performed in 140 patients. Two independent blinded readers made image evaluation of the SSF and STD images. Results: SSF reduced the motion artifacts (30% vs. 41%; P<. .05) and improved the image quality ("excellent" images: 52% vs. 42%; P=. .022), but did not influence diagnostic utility ("nondiagnostic" images: 10% vs. 14%; P=. .104). Conclusion: The use of the SSF algorithm reduced the presence of motion artifacts and improved image quality, but did not influence the diagnostic utility.